I am the only one fucked up about this?
I was at a doctor's appointment and when I got out my phone was blowing up. Put me in a bad mood, ruined my whole day.
Death is final. What about this do young people not understand?
I'm not sure what happened here. But I'm thinking it's drugs, it's always drugs, especially when it comes out of the blue. Sure, Avicii spoke of health problems before, they caused him to retire from the road, but what was he doing in Oman anyway.
But he's gone now, we'll get no answers, what went through his head, he's just another casualty on the music road. But at 28? THAT'S CRIMINAL!
Now this is having the wrong tone. Funny how between your brain and your fingers your thoughts change.
But why does this have to happen? Why are drugs glorified by the music set? Is that what makes you a rebel, doing drugs?
And I know sometimes they're used to deal with the lifestyle, but how come the handlers don't acknowledge this. But the truth is musicians are like racehorses, run into the ground, shot when they're broken, sometimes by themselves. They're not seen as people.
Life is short, but in truth it's really long. And it's not a constant upward arc. Nobody's on top forever. The key is to adjust and to live.
And sure, taking a break can sometimes mean you're passed over.
But at least you get a chance to come back.
I always think about what Joe Walsh said, that the challenge is LIVING!
So it's kinda like school shootings. Everyone laments the deceased's passing, talks about what a wonderful person they were, how great their music was, and then it's business as usual.
Meanwhile, what kind of outlaw ties up with corporations, doing sponsorships? If it's about image, your credibility is immediately shot.
So we never get to hear another Avicii song. Oh, they'll plumb the archives, come up with something, hell, Jimi Hendrix just made a new record. But imagine what Jimi Hendrix would be playing today.
Then again, the longer you live the less of a legend you are. You're revealed to be normal, with foibles.
But ain't that the truth, how we're all equal under the skin, normal?
And I don't want to stop typing, because I'll be left with that creepy feeling again. The exact opposite of how I felt when I heard "Wake Me Up" come out of the speakers for the very first time. It's hard to have a hit, but it's even harder to create a track you only have to hear once to get, that you've got to hear incessantly, over and over again, until it's so embedded in your brain you can play it to yourself. That's what Avicii achieved.
And there will be more hits. Time marches on. That's what the dead don't realize, no one is that important, everyone is superseded, time doesn't stop.
It's bad enough when people are ill, get cancer...but when you mistreat yourself...
Like all the people still smoking. Why do you think you're the exception? You're gonna get old and wanna live but you won't. And your spouse and your children will be so disappointed when you're gone.
I didn't even know Avicii and I'm disappointed when he's gone.
And they must reveal the cause of death for all these people who die before their time, although it will come out, it almost always does. We demand it as human beings. Life is a struggle under the best of circumstances, we want answers, explanations, guidance, we don't want to think we can just go along minding our business and have it all end.
But it can. In an automobile accident. Or maybe your time is up, like that woman sucked out of that Southwest plane.
Tom Petty O.D.'ed. As did Prince. And they might not have had hits recently, but if you saw them perform they were still at the top of their game.
And Bonzo killed Led Zeppelin with his death.
And I'm not saying everybody can stand up and fly straight.
But the truth is the body is quite resilient. It takes a lot to kill yourself.
Drugs are not cool. No matter what you say.
It's uncool to say that, but all my best highs have been natural, when I'm fully aware and can experience the excellence.
I know, I know, I should be lauding Tim Bergling, talk about how wonderful he was.
But the truth is I'm still here and he's not. And I'm off-kilter, I've got this horrible feeling inside.
AND I DON'T LIKE IT!
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Friday 20 April 2018
Little League
I lived to play baseball.
This was back when the Yankees never lost and the Giants were in San Francisco and the biggest stars in the game were Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. I knew that Mickey grew up in Oklahoma and suffered from osteomyelitis and I purchased a biography of the Say Hey Kid on vacation in Atlantic City that I never read and I listened to the game on my transistor, under my pillow, I was addicted.
Not that my father paved the way. My mother was very athletic, she played golf, she'd watch the game, but my father never would.
But he stoked my jones, buying me a glove, taking me to the Stadium, but even more than being a fan I liked to play.
This was back when you'd leave the house and tell your mother you'd be home for dinner, when she had no idea where you really were, not that she was worried. And sure, there were some couch potatoes, but most kids played outside, sometimes making up their own games, I remember building miniature golf courses in the backyard, and walking up to the schoolyard to play baseball.
It wasn't organized. It was just whoever showed up. And you knew who was good and you knew who was bad but you chose teams and decided who'd be up first by choking up on the bat.
Actually, I never walked, I always rode my bike, before you had to lock it up, when tires were fat and pedaling was slow and you had to haul it up a hill but the bike was just a vehicle...
To the diamond.
And in my town there were three leagues, National, American and Greenfield Hill. And ultimately, in July, a town championship played amongst the three. We made it all the way back in '64, but were bounced in the final in '65. In '63 we didn't make it at all, I was on the Beechmont Dairy team, one of two designated ten year olds, I got a weak infield hit before I went to camp, I never told the coach I was going, missing the final four games, and when I showed up the following season to play...
I got cut.
Now this was back when it used to snow. Although it's snowing again now, how wacky is the weather? But you never brought out the ball in February, it was unheard of, but as soon as you got to March 1st...
It was baseball season!
We watched the Grapefruit League on TV, but even more we threw the ball, even though the ground might still be frozen. We were ready.
And in Connecticut in March, the winds are fierce. To the point where it would impact the game. But we played anyway.
And tryouts began on April 1st.
By time you hit April...
It was spring. It was not gonna snow again. There were occasionally winds, but practice was never canceled.
There was a new coach for Beechmont Dairy, his son had to play, therefore I got bounced. But I ended up on a much better team, the Korner Market, where down the street they had the team photos in the store, coached by Mr. Russo, who only had girls, who was into the game, who was doing it to give back, where are these people today?
My father knew him, he was a liquor salesman and my dad owned a liquor store.
And we had a very good team.
Opening day was right around now. We'd all go down to Gould Manor Park where we'd strut around in our uniforms and there would be introductions and a game and my parents would come with me, which was the only time they'd show up. Oh, once during the season maybe my dad would come, but when they moved the field further away he never did.
And if we won, we got Dairy Queen.
If we lost, we headed home heads down, dejected.
But I lived to play.
And I thought of all this when I looked out the window last night and it was still light at 7:30. You see at the beginning of the season that was always a factor, whether the six inning game would make it to the end, before it got dark. You'd be fighting the light, it would be hard to see the ball, but as spring moved on this was no longer an issue.
And it was not like Los Angeles, because of the humidity spring would get HOT! You didn't need a jacket when you rode your bicycle, but you didn't go to the beach and swim the day of a game, that would slow you down, but that was the only precaution.
I know it's different now. I know little kids play soccer. And then comes t-ball. And everybody gets a trophy. But back in my day...
You either had the goods or you didn't. Either you made the team or you didn't. And a trophy meant everything.
Maybe that's the difference between baby boomers and their children. We strove towards excellence, it was more important than being a member of the group. Then again, we were bullied with no pushback from our parents. We endured and we survived. Physically anyway.
And I never watch baseball anymore. I got out when the teams went to double knits. And now it's even worse, because of the dedication of my brethren, my fellow baby boomers. They believe the game will keep them young. But the players are faceless and the kids would rather play eSports and the excitement is gone.
But still... The one great thing about baseball is it ain't over till it's over, you can always come back.
Like life.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
This was back when the Yankees never lost and the Giants were in San Francisco and the biggest stars in the game were Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. I knew that Mickey grew up in Oklahoma and suffered from osteomyelitis and I purchased a biography of the Say Hey Kid on vacation in Atlantic City that I never read and I listened to the game on my transistor, under my pillow, I was addicted.
Not that my father paved the way. My mother was very athletic, she played golf, she'd watch the game, but my father never would.
But he stoked my jones, buying me a glove, taking me to the Stadium, but even more than being a fan I liked to play.
This was back when you'd leave the house and tell your mother you'd be home for dinner, when she had no idea where you really were, not that she was worried. And sure, there were some couch potatoes, but most kids played outside, sometimes making up their own games, I remember building miniature golf courses in the backyard, and walking up to the schoolyard to play baseball.
It wasn't organized. It was just whoever showed up. And you knew who was good and you knew who was bad but you chose teams and decided who'd be up first by choking up on the bat.
Actually, I never walked, I always rode my bike, before you had to lock it up, when tires were fat and pedaling was slow and you had to haul it up a hill but the bike was just a vehicle...
To the diamond.
And in my town there were three leagues, National, American and Greenfield Hill. And ultimately, in July, a town championship played amongst the three. We made it all the way back in '64, but were bounced in the final in '65. In '63 we didn't make it at all, I was on the Beechmont Dairy team, one of two designated ten year olds, I got a weak infield hit before I went to camp, I never told the coach I was going, missing the final four games, and when I showed up the following season to play...
I got cut.
Now this was back when it used to snow. Although it's snowing again now, how wacky is the weather? But you never brought out the ball in February, it was unheard of, but as soon as you got to March 1st...
It was baseball season!
We watched the Grapefruit League on TV, but even more we threw the ball, even though the ground might still be frozen. We were ready.
And in Connecticut in March, the winds are fierce. To the point where it would impact the game. But we played anyway.
And tryouts began on April 1st.
By time you hit April...
It was spring. It was not gonna snow again. There were occasionally winds, but practice was never canceled.
There was a new coach for Beechmont Dairy, his son had to play, therefore I got bounced. But I ended up on a much better team, the Korner Market, where down the street they had the team photos in the store, coached by Mr. Russo, who only had girls, who was into the game, who was doing it to give back, where are these people today?
My father knew him, he was a liquor salesman and my dad owned a liquor store.
And we had a very good team.
Opening day was right around now. We'd all go down to Gould Manor Park where we'd strut around in our uniforms and there would be introductions and a game and my parents would come with me, which was the only time they'd show up. Oh, once during the season maybe my dad would come, but when they moved the field further away he never did.
And if we won, we got Dairy Queen.
If we lost, we headed home heads down, dejected.
But I lived to play.
And I thought of all this when I looked out the window last night and it was still light at 7:30. You see at the beginning of the season that was always a factor, whether the six inning game would make it to the end, before it got dark. You'd be fighting the light, it would be hard to see the ball, but as spring moved on this was no longer an issue.
And it was not like Los Angeles, because of the humidity spring would get HOT! You didn't need a jacket when you rode your bicycle, but you didn't go to the beach and swim the day of a game, that would slow you down, but that was the only precaution.
I know it's different now. I know little kids play soccer. And then comes t-ball. And everybody gets a trophy. But back in my day...
You either had the goods or you didn't. Either you made the team or you didn't. And a trophy meant everything.
Maybe that's the difference between baby boomers and their children. We strove towards excellence, it was more important than being a member of the group. Then again, we were bullied with no pushback from our parents. We endured and we survived. Physically anyway.
And I never watch baseball anymore. I got out when the teams went to double knits. And now it's even worse, because of the dedication of my brethren, my fellow baby boomers. They believe the game will keep them young. But the players are faceless and the kids would rather play eSports and the excitement is gone.
But still... The one great thing about baseball is it ain't over till it's over, you can always come back.
Like life.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Wednesday 18 April 2018
In My Room
It was "I Get Around."
Before the Beatles there was music, but that band woke us all up, got us all addicted. They infected not only television and radio but the jukebox too, where I heard all their songs at Nutmeg Bowl, where we went bowling every Friday with our sixth grade class, where I was a league member on Saturday mornings, did I ever tell you I had my own ball?
That's where we were the day President Kennedy got shot. We found out when Mrs. Taylor, the seventh grade teacher, came downstairs to our faraway room, she was crying. We didn't believe it, but there was no internet back then, certainly no television in classrooms, we wanted to go bowling and when the bus pulled up we got on and rolled away. But I distinctly remember watching the TV at the lounge at the lanes, waiting for the bus to go home, finding out that our President was truly gone.
Now before the Beatles I did love the Four Seasons, still do. I hate that they're now called "Franki Valli and...," you never want to mess with someone's memories, their illusion of a group, and Bob Gaudio deserves so much credit. And around the same time I loved "Dawn (Go Away)," it was and still is my favorite, I bought the single.
But I bought Beach Boys albums.
Not right away. But hearing Mike Love sing about teenage life in "I Get Around" at Nutmeg Bowl I was possessed with the possibilities, and the background vocals in the chorus, this was not the moment I decided I wanted to live in California, that came earlier, with all the TV shows filmed there, but this cemented the deal.
But I didn't buy a Beach Boys LP until the following summer, when I rode my bike down the hill to the discount store to purchase "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)" on the day it was released, to own "California Girls." "Good Vibrations" gets all the accolades these days, but "California Girls" was an equal breakthrough, with its lengthy instrumental background when that was unheard of on the radio and then the loping intro to the verses about how much better it was on the west coast, and still is, don't pay attention to the stories saying otherwise, those people are just jealous.
And at this point, my favorite cut on "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)" is "Girl Don't Tell Me," which reminds me of camp, those exquisite days that lasted only a month, which I lamented the passage of for the other eleven. And for Carl Wilson's vocal. He's gone and he's been forgotten but his voice had a quality of wistfulness and honesty. He wasn't different, but just like a guy you went to high school with, he was a gem.
And from there, I was on a tear.
I bought "Surfin' U.S.A." and tried to comb my locks like Dennis Wilson's on the back cover.
And "Surfin' Safari," with not only the band's first hit and the title cut, but the consummate car song, "409."
I was filling in holes, I bought "Shut Down Volume 2," with the indelible "Pop, Pom Play Girl," never mind "Fun, Fun, Fun."
And "The Beach Boys Today!"
But not everything. Because money was precious. And I tracked the cuts, decided what I absolutely needed to own.
And then Ellen gave me "All Summer Long" and "Surfer Girl" for my birthday.
Not actually on my birthday, she said she'd call, we'd do something, but she didn't. So I drove with my relatives to Boston and stayed with my camp friend Ronnie and got stoned for the very first time on my actual seventeenth birthday and went to see "Woodstock," and when I got back to school the following week Ellen gave me those two records wrapped in yarn which made me wish I'd hung around in Connecticut, but I hadn't.
"All Summer Long" is the one with "I Get Around," as well as "Don't Back Down," which Lyndon used to sing before he got in the Saab to go surfing.
But "Surfer Girl" contains "In My Room."
Not that that's my favorite cut on the album, that would be "Catch A Wave," with its harp, which Jan & Dean rewrote as "Sidewalk Surfin'."
But it was "In My Room" I've been singing to myself the past few days, it came to me while I was reading my book, Meg Wolitzer's "The Female Persuasion."
I loved her previous work, "The Interestings," speaking of summer camp, and this new one didn't get as good reviews, and it deals with feminism and #MeToo issues, but that didn't turn me off, you fall in love with the creator and you follow them wherever they might go.
And where she went was to college. And high school before that.
I didn't anticipate this. What I got were the interior thoughts of the protagonist Greer, who had checked-out, stoner parents, who'd failed to fill out the financial forms adequately so she couldn't attend Yale, but a B minus school which offered a free ride.
And it's there where she encounters the famous feminist, Faith Frank.
Never underestimate the power of the individual to have an influence on you.
And to tell you the truth, "The Female Persuasion" wobbles. Sometimes there's plenty of plot, and sometimes there's too much feminism, but there are moments of truth and insights into life, turns out everybody stumbles, and we all pass the torch to the next generation.
And I was thinking about how much I was enjoying reading this book, in the dark, by the light of my backlit Kindle, alone, after midnight. This is my time, when the iMessages and e-mails slow down, when I have room to move, when I'm uninterrupted, when my mind is set free and the ideas come. In a perfect world I'd wake up at noon and go to bed at four, and I did that for decades, but the truth is no one else can handle it, but it's great for creativity.
And I'm thinking about this feeling, of being alone and reading and resonating. And I hear Brian Wilson singing in the background...
"There's a world where I can go
And tell my secrets to
In my room
In my room"
I didn't share one, it was mine only, being the only boy in the family. It was late to a window air-conditioner, there was frost on the windows in the winter, but when I shut the door I could dream and be my best self.
"I this world I lock out
All my worries and my fears
In my room
In my room"
After midnight it's not only too late to go to the doctor, but too late for bill collectors to call. Everything goes quiet. Nothing will happen till the next day, you're free.
"Now it's dark and I'm alone
But I won't be afraid
In my room
In my room"
It's gonna be my birthday again soon. Getting old is so weird, kinda like that Joe Walsh song, everything is so different but I haven't changed. Never mind the internet and cell phones, but so much I relied on, as bedrock, is gone. Oh, there are fumes of classic rock. And it's a golden age of television, but I'm never going back to summer camp and friends of mine are actually dead and eventually I will be too and the longer I live the less I know, even though I know more than I ever did.
And I wonder how these musicians of yore knew so much at their young age. How they created these concoctions that struck our hearts and still do.
I vacillate, from wanting to be integrated and wanting to be alone. Do either one long enough and I want to do the other.
But these records, they're embedded in my brain, part of my DNA, they help explain my life, when I'm lying on the couch in the middle of the night staring at the ceiling wondering what it's all about.
https://spoti.fi/2Henf7V
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Before the Beatles there was music, but that band woke us all up, got us all addicted. They infected not only television and radio but the jukebox too, where I heard all their songs at Nutmeg Bowl, where we went bowling every Friday with our sixth grade class, where I was a league member on Saturday mornings, did I ever tell you I had my own ball?
That's where we were the day President Kennedy got shot. We found out when Mrs. Taylor, the seventh grade teacher, came downstairs to our faraway room, she was crying. We didn't believe it, but there was no internet back then, certainly no television in classrooms, we wanted to go bowling and when the bus pulled up we got on and rolled away. But I distinctly remember watching the TV at the lounge at the lanes, waiting for the bus to go home, finding out that our President was truly gone.
Now before the Beatles I did love the Four Seasons, still do. I hate that they're now called "Franki Valli and...," you never want to mess with someone's memories, their illusion of a group, and Bob Gaudio deserves so much credit. And around the same time I loved "Dawn (Go Away)," it was and still is my favorite, I bought the single.
But I bought Beach Boys albums.
Not right away. But hearing Mike Love sing about teenage life in "I Get Around" at Nutmeg Bowl I was possessed with the possibilities, and the background vocals in the chorus, this was not the moment I decided I wanted to live in California, that came earlier, with all the TV shows filmed there, but this cemented the deal.
But I didn't buy a Beach Boys LP until the following summer, when I rode my bike down the hill to the discount store to purchase "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)" on the day it was released, to own "California Girls." "Good Vibrations" gets all the accolades these days, but "California Girls" was an equal breakthrough, with its lengthy instrumental background when that was unheard of on the radio and then the loping intro to the verses about how much better it was on the west coast, and still is, don't pay attention to the stories saying otherwise, those people are just jealous.
And at this point, my favorite cut on "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)" is "Girl Don't Tell Me," which reminds me of camp, those exquisite days that lasted only a month, which I lamented the passage of for the other eleven. And for Carl Wilson's vocal. He's gone and he's been forgotten but his voice had a quality of wistfulness and honesty. He wasn't different, but just like a guy you went to high school with, he was a gem.
And from there, I was on a tear.
I bought "Surfin' U.S.A." and tried to comb my locks like Dennis Wilson's on the back cover.
And "Surfin' Safari," with not only the band's first hit and the title cut, but the consummate car song, "409."
I was filling in holes, I bought "Shut Down Volume 2," with the indelible "Pop, Pom Play Girl," never mind "Fun, Fun, Fun."
And "The Beach Boys Today!"
But not everything. Because money was precious. And I tracked the cuts, decided what I absolutely needed to own.
And then Ellen gave me "All Summer Long" and "Surfer Girl" for my birthday.
Not actually on my birthday, she said she'd call, we'd do something, but she didn't. So I drove with my relatives to Boston and stayed with my camp friend Ronnie and got stoned for the very first time on my actual seventeenth birthday and went to see "Woodstock," and when I got back to school the following week Ellen gave me those two records wrapped in yarn which made me wish I'd hung around in Connecticut, but I hadn't.
"All Summer Long" is the one with "I Get Around," as well as "Don't Back Down," which Lyndon used to sing before he got in the Saab to go surfing.
But "Surfer Girl" contains "In My Room."
Not that that's my favorite cut on the album, that would be "Catch A Wave," with its harp, which Jan & Dean rewrote as "Sidewalk Surfin'."
But it was "In My Room" I've been singing to myself the past few days, it came to me while I was reading my book, Meg Wolitzer's "The Female Persuasion."
I loved her previous work, "The Interestings," speaking of summer camp, and this new one didn't get as good reviews, and it deals with feminism and #MeToo issues, but that didn't turn me off, you fall in love with the creator and you follow them wherever they might go.
And where she went was to college. And high school before that.
I didn't anticipate this. What I got were the interior thoughts of the protagonist Greer, who had checked-out, stoner parents, who'd failed to fill out the financial forms adequately so she couldn't attend Yale, but a B minus school which offered a free ride.
And it's there where she encounters the famous feminist, Faith Frank.
Never underestimate the power of the individual to have an influence on you.
And to tell you the truth, "The Female Persuasion" wobbles. Sometimes there's plenty of plot, and sometimes there's too much feminism, but there are moments of truth and insights into life, turns out everybody stumbles, and we all pass the torch to the next generation.
And I was thinking about how much I was enjoying reading this book, in the dark, by the light of my backlit Kindle, alone, after midnight. This is my time, when the iMessages and e-mails slow down, when I have room to move, when I'm uninterrupted, when my mind is set free and the ideas come. In a perfect world I'd wake up at noon and go to bed at four, and I did that for decades, but the truth is no one else can handle it, but it's great for creativity.
And I'm thinking about this feeling, of being alone and reading and resonating. And I hear Brian Wilson singing in the background...
"There's a world where I can go
And tell my secrets to
In my room
In my room"
I didn't share one, it was mine only, being the only boy in the family. It was late to a window air-conditioner, there was frost on the windows in the winter, but when I shut the door I could dream and be my best self.
"I this world I lock out
All my worries and my fears
In my room
In my room"
After midnight it's not only too late to go to the doctor, but too late for bill collectors to call. Everything goes quiet. Nothing will happen till the next day, you're free.
"Now it's dark and I'm alone
But I won't be afraid
In my room
In my room"
It's gonna be my birthday again soon. Getting old is so weird, kinda like that Joe Walsh song, everything is so different but I haven't changed. Never mind the internet and cell phones, but so much I relied on, as bedrock, is gone. Oh, there are fumes of classic rock. And it's a golden age of television, but I'm never going back to summer camp and friends of mine are actually dead and eventually I will be too and the longer I live the less I know, even though I know more than I ever did.
And I wonder how these musicians of yore knew so much at their young age. How they created these concoctions that struck our hearts and still do.
I vacillate, from wanting to be integrated and wanting to be alone. Do either one long enough and I want to do the other.
But these records, they're embedded in my brain, part of my DNA, they help explain my life, when I'm lying on the couch in the middle of the night staring at the ceiling wondering what it's all about.
https://spoti.fi/2Henf7V
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Re-Social Media
If I read one more anti-internet screed I'm gonna EXPLODE!
We post to feel connected, it's the same reason we surf, we want to feel part of a community, the human race, we have an urge to belong, to tell our stories, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
I'm not condoning the use of our data, nor the tireless self-promoters trying to get rich. But I am saying all those people promoting disconnection, turning devices off so one can truly experience life, are Luddites trying to haul us all back to an era that wasn't so perfect to begin with.
Like the fifties. When women didn't work outside the home, but were also second-class citizens, like African-Americans.
The world has changed, and you've got to change with it.
Yes, prior to the invention of the automobile, THE RAILROAD, we lived in small communities and knew more people and our societies were tightly knit. But what if you didn't like where you grew up, what if you were gay, what if you were different? GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!
Speaking of homosexuality, you used to have to move to San Francisco or Provincetown or West Hollywood to feel footloose and fancy free. Now you can just log on and find a plethora of people who feel just like you do, AIN'T THAT GRAND??
Furthermore, niches are not as narrow. Used to be I was the only person I knew who lived for skiing. Now I can log on and find endless information about the sport. To tell you the truth, I still crave more, but it's so much better than it used to be.
Ergo the ability to connect with people. Sure, I might not want to interact with everybody I went to high school with, but to go on Twitter and send and receive a response from someone in the public eye? And you don't have to be famous to achieve this, just someone of insight and wit. And social media leavens the landscape, now the only stars are not on stage or on screen. We used to know very little about these two-dimensional characters. Now not only are we exposed to their foibles, we see they are really no different from you or me. A star just ain't what he or she used to be. And if someone rises above, assuming they don't shoot someone or wreck the country, it's because they're intelligent and have something to say. Sure, the Kardashians come along with this, but they've also illustrated you don't have to have a talent to be famous, unless your talent is creating a story millions are interested in.
Most YouTube stars will not survive. Most social media stars will not cross over. But that does not mean there's nothing there to pay attention to. These are the innovators, these are the people testing limits, who knew unboxing was a thing, who knew the degree to which women were addicted to makeup.
And what would protest look like without social media? David Hogg might not be a household name. And you might resent Hogg, but you can go online and give your opinion and try to gain traction.
We check Facebook multiple times a day not because we're looking to get rich so much as we want to feel part of the social fabric. Sure, there are some true loners out there, but the rest of us long to be involved, toss ideas, have a laugh, gossip, no different from an era sans modern communication techniques.
Come on, why do you think all those millions signed up for Facebook to begin with?
And then migrated to Instagram and Snapchat?
It's not about the platform, it's about the PEOPLE!
So when someone tells you to tune out...
Look what devices they use. Some of the loudest complainers don't even have a smartphone, or haven't upgraded since Windows XP. They resent the future, they don't want to learn.
And then there are those who lie. Who say they're disconnecting when they're not.
Are we overwhelmed?
OF COURSE!
I can complain all day about the present, never mind the future. The music scene is incomprehensible and facts seem to be irrelevant in politics. Everybody's deep in his or her niche, but at least there are niches that appeal to them. If you lived through the era of three TV stations you know today is a godsend, hell, it wasn't that long ago that Bruce Springsteen complained there were 57 channels and nothing on, but no one complains about choices anymore, other than to say THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THEM!
And why is it the younger generation is not complaining?
God, I'd only love to grow up today, instead of being alone in my bedroom I'd be talking to my friends all day long on my device. Loneliness, the scourge of humanity, would be eradicated.
As for checking my phone multiple times a day, supposedly far in excess of a hundred, it's because I want to be included, up-to-date, know what's going on. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
Now I don't have to go out to be involved. I can stay home and connect endlessly. Which is way better than going to a dark bar with loud music and being ignored. You can find a date online, connect with someone from the past you had a crush on, but all those holier-than-thou people who triumphed back then keep telling us we're doing it wrong.
WE'RE NOT!
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
We post to feel connected, it's the same reason we surf, we want to feel part of a community, the human race, we have an urge to belong, to tell our stories, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
I'm not condoning the use of our data, nor the tireless self-promoters trying to get rich. But I am saying all those people promoting disconnection, turning devices off so one can truly experience life, are Luddites trying to haul us all back to an era that wasn't so perfect to begin with.
Like the fifties. When women didn't work outside the home, but were also second-class citizens, like African-Americans.
The world has changed, and you've got to change with it.
Yes, prior to the invention of the automobile, THE RAILROAD, we lived in small communities and knew more people and our societies were tightly knit. But what if you didn't like where you grew up, what if you were gay, what if you were different? GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!
Speaking of homosexuality, you used to have to move to San Francisco or Provincetown or West Hollywood to feel footloose and fancy free. Now you can just log on and find a plethora of people who feel just like you do, AIN'T THAT GRAND??
Furthermore, niches are not as narrow. Used to be I was the only person I knew who lived for skiing. Now I can log on and find endless information about the sport. To tell you the truth, I still crave more, but it's so much better than it used to be.
Ergo the ability to connect with people. Sure, I might not want to interact with everybody I went to high school with, but to go on Twitter and send and receive a response from someone in the public eye? And you don't have to be famous to achieve this, just someone of insight and wit. And social media leavens the landscape, now the only stars are not on stage or on screen. We used to know very little about these two-dimensional characters. Now not only are we exposed to their foibles, we see they are really no different from you or me. A star just ain't what he or she used to be. And if someone rises above, assuming they don't shoot someone or wreck the country, it's because they're intelligent and have something to say. Sure, the Kardashians come along with this, but they've also illustrated you don't have to have a talent to be famous, unless your talent is creating a story millions are interested in.
Most YouTube stars will not survive. Most social media stars will not cross over. But that does not mean there's nothing there to pay attention to. These are the innovators, these are the people testing limits, who knew unboxing was a thing, who knew the degree to which women were addicted to makeup.
And what would protest look like without social media? David Hogg might not be a household name. And you might resent Hogg, but you can go online and give your opinion and try to gain traction.
We check Facebook multiple times a day not because we're looking to get rich so much as we want to feel part of the social fabric. Sure, there are some true loners out there, but the rest of us long to be involved, toss ideas, have a laugh, gossip, no different from an era sans modern communication techniques.
Come on, why do you think all those millions signed up for Facebook to begin with?
And then migrated to Instagram and Snapchat?
It's not about the platform, it's about the PEOPLE!
So when someone tells you to tune out...
Look what devices they use. Some of the loudest complainers don't even have a smartphone, or haven't upgraded since Windows XP. They resent the future, they don't want to learn.
And then there are those who lie. Who say they're disconnecting when they're not.
Are we overwhelmed?
OF COURSE!
I can complain all day about the present, never mind the future. The music scene is incomprehensible and facts seem to be irrelevant in politics. Everybody's deep in his or her niche, but at least there are niches that appeal to them. If you lived through the era of three TV stations you know today is a godsend, hell, it wasn't that long ago that Bruce Springsteen complained there were 57 channels and nothing on, but no one complains about choices anymore, other than to say THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THEM!
And why is it the younger generation is not complaining?
God, I'd only love to grow up today, instead of being alone in my bedroom I'd be talking to my friends all day long on my device. Loneliness, the scourge of humanity, would be eradicated.
As for checking my phone multiple times a day, supposedly far in excess of a hundred, it's because I want to be included, up-to-date, know what's going on. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
Now I don't have to go out to be involved. I can stay home and connect endlessly. Which is way better than going to a dark bar with loud music and being ignored. You can find a date online, connect with someone from the past you had a crush on, but all those holier-than-thou people who triumphed back then keep telling us we're doing it wrong.
WE'RE NOT!
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
FOB & MMS Update
And if that's not enough acronyms for you...
FOB stands for "Festival of Books," the annual L.A. "Times" conclave of authors and...
This year podcasts. I am interviewing Moby for a live podcast this Saturday, April 21st, from noon to one in the Annenberg Auditorium at USC.
Details here: https://bit.ly/2J64ZtM
Once again, this is FREE! Eventually it will be a podcast via TuneIn, but if you like the live experience and want a chance to connect, this is the place.
As well as Santa Barbara at the Music Media Summit.
That's right, it's coming up, like a flower as the old McCartney song goes, the one he reminded me succeeded on the hit parade as a live track. Details are here: http://www.musicmediasummit.com
Now for those already planning on attending, I want to inform you that Troy Carter will appear on Sunday, April 29, from 4:30-6:00 PM, so get there early. Troy has jury duty the following week, so we wanted to make sure he could get his time in.
As you will recall, other speakers include:
Rob Glaser-RealNetworks
Daniel Glass-Glassnote Records
Ethiopia Habtemariam-Motown
Steve Boom-Amazon Music
And...a grand finale of podcast star John Boyle of Insomniac/Live Nation doing a wrap-up interview of yours truly, re what we learned in the preceding two days.
So, there is still room available.
As for what you will experience...
I will be interviewing the participants live, like you hear in the podcast every week, but in this case it will be up close and personal. And you'll get a chance to interact with my guests and me and the attendees.
It's a relationship business. And without friends, you will not triumph.
This is not the kind of conference where you have a booth or play your song and sell, rather it's one where you connect and get to know people personally, and once you're buddies, who knows what will happen.
A fun time is guaranteed for all.
Assuming you come.
SO SIGN UP!
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
FOB stands for "Festival of Books," the annual L.A. "Times" conclave of authors and...
This year podcasts. I am interviewing Moby for a live podcast this Saturday, April 21st, from noon to one in the Annenberg Auditorium at USC.
Details here: https://bit.ly/2J64ZtM
Once again, this is FREE! Eventually it will be a podcast via TuneIn, but if you like the live experience and want a chance to connect, this is the place.
As well as Santa Barbara at the Music Media Summit.
That's right, it's coming up, like a flower as the old McCartney song goes, the one he reminded me succeeded on the hit parade as a live track. Details are here: http://www.musicmediasummit.com
Now for those already planning on attending, I want to inform you that Troy Carter will appear on Sunday, April 29, from 4:30-6:00 PM, so get there early. Troy has jury duty the following week, so we wanted to make sure he could get his time in.
As you will recall, other speakers include:
Rob Glaser-RealNetworks
Daniel Glass-Glassnote Records
Ethiopia Habtemariam-Motown
Steve Boom-Amazon Music
And...a grand finale of podcast star John Boyle of Insomniac/Live Nation doing a wrap-up interview of yours truly, re what we learned in the preceding two days.
So, there is still room available.
As for what you will experience...
I will be interviewing the participants live, like you hear in the podcast every week, but in this case it will be up close and personal. And you'll get a chance to interact with my guests and me and the attendees.
It's a relationship business. And without friends, you will not triumph.
This is not the kind of conference where you have a booth or play your song and sell, rather it's one where you connect and get to know people personally, and once you're buddies, who knows what will happen.
A fun time is guaranteed for all.
Assuming you come.
SO SIGN UP!
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Tuesday 17 April 2018
Kendall Ostrow-This Week's Podcast
She knows more about social media than anybody I know.
I met Kendall at the Summit Series, back in September 2014, in Eden, Utah. She told me she was gonna sell the first Snapchat series.
She did.
She's the head of social media at UTA, she dives in and helps all their talent develop their social strategies.
She started out as an NBC Page, worked for "Ellen," and all the while...touted the advantages of social media before the oldsters knew what it was, never mind the benefits.
If you want to hear the viewpoint of a young up and comer.
TUNE IN!
TuneIn https://listen.tunein.com/kendallostrow
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/kendall-ostrow/id1316200737?i=1000409092228&mt=2
Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/D3m6xwhvgpljvu5hteac4v6zg6m?t=Kendall_Ostrow-The_Bob_Lefsetz_Podcast
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bob-lefsetz/kendall-ostrow-19
Overcast: https://overcast.fm/+LBr-IjU5w
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
I met Kendall at the Summit Series, back in September 2014, in Eden, Utah. She told me she was gonna sell the first Snapchat series.
She did.
She's the head of social media at UTA, she dives in and helps all their talent develop their social strategies.
She started out as an NBC Page, worked for "Ellen," and all the while...touted the advantages of social media before the oldsters knew what it was, never mind the benefits.
If you want to hear the viewpoint of a young up and comer.
TUNE IN!
TuneIn https://listen.tunein.com/kendallostrow
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/kendall-ostrow/id1316200737?i=1000409092228&mt=2
Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/D3m6xwhvgpljvu5hteac4v6zg6m?t=Kendall_Ostrow-The_Bob_Lefsetz_Podcast
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bob-lefsetz/kendall-ostrow-19
Overcast: https://overcast.fm/+LBr-IjU5w
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Martin Sorrell
It appears he's irreplaceable.
Reach a certain age and you know the people in the newspaper. Like Mr. Sorrell, who ran WPP, not that I could exactly tell you what WPP was before I went to their Stream conference in Ojai last November. Turns out WPP stands for "Wire and Plastic Products." Sorrell took control of that company that made grocery store baskets and transformed it into an advertising juggernaut, after working with the Saatchis, after getting an MBA.
But Saturday he resigned.
You see there was an investigation. Questions of impropriety. Although I mingled with the brass at the Oaks, I've got no idea of the truth of the accusations, but I will say Sorrell was both approachable and driven, it's not often you're up close and personal with the U.K.'s highest paid employee.
Now I don't want to apologize for social and fiscal improprieties, especially at public companies during this #MeToo era, but it's interesting how the builders usually cannot only not be superseded, but can't be replaced.
The two most famous cases are...
Steve Jobs at Apple Computer.
And Jim Morrison in the Doors.
Sure, Janis Joplin died. Jimi Hendrix too. And while we're at it, Buddy Holly and Otis Redding. But there was no group, they were individuals, you'd think that the Doors were more than Morrison and they'd be able to carry on.
But they weren't.
Now you'll tell me about Genesis and Van Halen and the interesting thing about Genesis, even though it went on to greater commercial success, it was definitely not the same act, Peter Gabriel tested limits conceptually and lyrically that the ones who were left did not. As for Van Halen...Sammy Hagar's got a much better voice than David Lee Roth, but Sammy doesn't have the irreverence, the skewed view that made Van Halen more than a meat and potatoes band.
Now we can focus on the uniqueness of these characters.
Or we can focus on how when they're gone the enterprise is done.
But we live in a world where we're told everybody is replaceable, everybody is just a cog in the system, that you don't matter.
But you do.
But everything they teach you in school is wrong.
In school they teach you how to get along, be a member of society. But the Van Halen brothers couldn't tolerate Mr. Roth, and Steve Jobs was notoriously mercurial... Have we been sold a bill of goods?
Kinda like those Ivy League graduates who go into consulting. Or those with MBAs who go to work for the man. They make money, they move their way up the management ladder, but they don't impact society, they don't change anything.
It's about risk and vision and you're either born with them or you're not, and the ability to execute on them is another step, the world is riddled with people with ideas without the willingness or courage to execute them.
Now the funny thing about these creators is they have rough edges, they're not warm and fuzzy. I won't say they're not friendly, sometimes they are, but they don't suffer fools and they don't want their time wasted. And if you're ignorant, they'll dismiss you. And they won't be afraid of offending you.
Furthermore, they won't worry about being PC, about being nice, about saying something unfavorable or challenging preconceptions.
Now some of these people are damaged beyond repair. Someone like Travis Kalanick, you could tell he was a prick during the days of Scour. He seemed to have no remorse and evidenced an aura that he knew better and didn't have time for you, despite the topic not being that hard to fathom. And it appears that Uber is on the rebound, latest research says that Lyft may have peaked, but I'm not betting on the new CEO, he's not Kalanick.
Kinda like Daniel Ek and Spotify. Dynamic and charming Daniel is not, but dogged he is. He was not always a billionaire, he flew in the back of the plane and waited all day for meetings. And it's not about the investment of time so much as the willingness to stay the course, not because someone told you to, but because you can't do it any other way.
This is what bugs me about business books, about self-help, you think if you read them you can get answers, but you can't because you're not that person, your only hope is to be your best self, not that you can't learn lessons, but they're probably social ones as opposed to business ones.
But what bugs me most is the change in the picture of an American.
An American was someone who knew no limits, who pushed the edge of the envelope, who was can-do, who was not worried about formalities, but results. And that spearheaded innovation and success for two centuries, but now...
Those with the power and money have grouped together to keep those without down. That's right, used to be everybody had the tools at their fingertips, but with governments challenged schools are ill and underequipped and you can't get into the Ivies without a legacy and cash. Of course there are exceptions, but not many.
And it was always hard to get a bank to fund your idea. But you could scrape by on a minimum. Now if you're working for the minimum wage you might still be on welfare.
But this isn't so much about helping those on the bottom than recognizing those on the bleeding edge, the stars of our society, who amaze us and inspire us.
Not the me-too musicians. Not the me-too superhero movies.
Kinda like Reed Hastings, who doubled-down on Netflix production which caused subscriptions to go to the roof while movie studios cut the number of flicks they made and record companies dropped the number of releases and genres. Just imagine if a major label signed and promoted something different not radio-friendly... Then we might have a change in the system, that company would make beaucoup bucks. But no one at a major label has skin in the game anymore, they're protecting what once was as opposed to what will be.
You have Elon Musk arguing with the government. Mark Cuban before him. I was always taught to be scared of the system, but looking at them I wonder if I'm wrong.
And Martin Sorrell was open to me, available, but he didn't want to make nice, he could contradict...
Whilst proffering his easy to remember e-mail address, saying how simple it was to reach him, any time.
Not that he knew who I was, but he knew I was there, and he was open to those who were.
That's where you want to be, just like "Hamilton" says, "the room where it happens."
But just being inside delivers a story no better than saying you did coke in the bathroom with somebody famous.
No, the truth is you've got to make it on your own. You've got to have confidence. You must take your inspiration to the limit. You must let your freak flag fly. You must be yourself.
And that's different from everybody else.
The greats are irreplaceable.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Reach a certain age and you know the people in the newspaper. Like Mr. Sorrell, who ran WPP, not that I could exactly tell you what WPP was before I went to their Stream conference in Ojai last November. Turns out WPP stands for "Wire and Plastic Products." Sorrell took control of that company that made grocery store baskets and transformed it into an advertising juggernaut, after working with the Saatchis, after getting an MBA.
But Saturday he resigned.
You see there was an investigation. Questions of impropriety. Although I mingled with the brass at the Oaks, I've got no idea of the truth of the accusations, but I will say Sorrell was both approachable and driven, it's not often you're up close and personal with the U.K.'s highest paid employee.
Now I don't want to apologize for social and fiscal improprieties, especially at public companies during this #MeToo era, but it's interesting how the builders usually cannot only not be superseded, but can't be replaced.
The two most famous cases are...
Steve Jobs at Apple Computer.
And Jim Morrison in the Doors.
Sure, Janis Joplin died. Jimi Hendrix too. And while we're at it, Buddy Holly and Otis Redding. But there was no group, they were individuals, you'd think that the Doors were more than Morrison and they'd be able to carry on.
But they weren't.
Now you'll tell me about Genesis and Van Halen and the interesting thing about Genesis, even though it went on to greater commercial success, it was definitely not the same act, Peter Gabriel tested limits conceptually and lyrically that the ones who were left did not. As for Van Halen...Sammy Hagar's got a much better voice than David Lee Roth, but Sammy doesn't have the irreverence, the skewed view that made Van Halen more than a meat and potatoes band.
Now we can focus on the uniqueness of these characters.
Or we can focus on how when they're gone the enterprise is done.
But we live in a world where we're told everybody is replaceable, everybody is just a cog in the system, that you don't matter.
But you do.
But everything they teach you in school is wrong.
In school they teach you how to get along, be a member of society. But the Van Halen brothers couldn't tolerate Mr. Roth, and Steve Jobs was notoriously mercurial... Have we been sold a bill of goods?
Kinda like those Ivy League graduates who go into consulting. Or those with MBAs who go to work for the man. They make money, they move their way up the management ladder, but they don't impact society, they don't change anything.
It's about risk and vision and you're either born with them or you're not, and the ability to execute on them is another step, the world is riddled with people with ideas without the willingness or courage to execute them.
Now the funny thing about these creators is they have rough edges, they're not warm and fuzzy. I won't say they're not friendly, sometimes they are, but they don't suffer fools and they don't want their time wasted. And if you're ignorant, they'll dismiss you. And they won't be afraid of offending you.
Furthermore, they won't worry about being PC, about being nice, about saying something unfavorable or challenging preconceptions.
Now some of these people are damaged beyond repair. Someone like Travis Kalanick, you could tell he was a prick during the days of Scour. He seemed to have no remorse and evidenced an aura that he knew better and didn't have time for you, despite the topic not being that hard to fathom. And it appears that Uber is on the rebound, latest research says that Lyft may have peaked, but I'm not betting on the new CEO, he's not Kalanick.
Kinda like Daniel Ek and Spotify. Dynamic and charming Daniel is not, but dogged he is. He was not always a billionaire, he flew in the back of the plane and waited all day for meetings. And it's not about the investment of time so much as the willingness to stay the course, not because someone told you to, but because you can't do it any other way.
This is what bugs me about business books, about self-help, you think if you read them you can get answers, but you can't because you're not that person, your only hope is to be your best self, not that you can't learn lessons, but they're probably social ones as opposed to business ones.
But what bugs me most is the change in the picture of an American.
An American was someone who knew no limits, who pushed the edge of the envelope, who was can-do, who was not worried about formalities, but results. And that spearheaded innovation and success for two centuries, but now...
Those with the power and money have grouped together to keep those without down. That's right, used to be everybody had the tools at their fingertips, but with governments challenged schools are ill and underequipped and you can't get into the Ivies without a legacy and cash. Of course there are exceptions, but not many.
And it was always hard to get a bank to fund your idea. But you could scrape by on a minimum. Now if you're working for the minimum wage you might still be on welfare.
But this isn't so much about helping those on the bottom than recognizing those on the bleeding edge, the stars of our society, who amaze us and inspire us.
Not the me-too musicians. Not the me-too superhero movies.
Kinda like Reed Hastings, who doubled-down on Netflix production which caused subscriptions to go to the roof while movie studios cut the number of flicks they made and record companies dropped the number of releases and genres. Just imagine if a major label signed and promoted something different not radio-friendly... Then we might have a change in the system, that company would make beaucoup bucks. But no one at a major label has skin in the game anymore, they're protecting what once was as opposed to what will be.
You have Elon Musk arguing with the government. Mark Cuban before him. I was always taught to be scared of the system, but looking at them I wonder if I'm wrong.
And Martin Sorrell was open to me, available, but he didn't want to make nice, he could contradict...
Whilst proffering his easy to remember e-mail address, saying how simple it was to reach him, any time.
Not that he knew who I was, but he knew I was there, and he was open to those who were.
That's where you want to be, just like "Hamilton" says, "the room where it happens."
But just being inside delivers a story no better than saying you did coke in the bathroom with somebody famous.
No, the truth is you've got to make it on your own. You've got to have confidence. You must take your inspiration to the limit. You must let your freak flag fly. You must be yourself.
And that's different from everybody else.
The greats are irreplaceable.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Monday 16 April 2018
Re-Bosch
Much appreciation for upping the signal. And I take back every negative word I ever said or sent.
Jeffrey Fiskin
_____________________________________
A friend sent me your Bosch review yesterday. I loved it. It expressed what I have been saying/feeling.
I am certainly biased because my life partner is Bosch composer Jesse Voccia. From the sidelines and as a critical viewer, I have watched the show evolve over the past 5 years, from baby pilot to now. I just thought your comments were spot on and wanted to let you know how much I appreciated what you said. Also, thank you for reminding me that Amy Aquino played Tess's secretary in Working Girl. She was brilliant!
I did want to point out that unfortunately the music for Bosch is rarely mentioned - because of the style of the show, it is used sparingly to be sure. That is something that Jesse and I applaud and appreciate creatively. Most articles I read do not highlight the music or only mention the title sequence song (by a band), which bums me out because there's an enormous amount of work and care put into the score. In fact, one article I just read from Paste said, "With two notable exceptions, the entire series is completely devoid of background music, cues, or stings." I guess everyone's a critic, including me.
Thanks again and looking forward to reading more of your articles and checking out your podcast!
Warm regards,
Nori Takei
_____________________________________
yeah.... Bosch is a great solid keeper...
main guy earned his keep doing "Deadwood".... his partner did the same with "The Wire"... total cream of the crop people...
and they do show an LA/Hollywood akin to what Altman's "The Long Goodbye" did in the '70s... trying to connect to the noir aesthetic of the 40s and 50s
Patrick Pierson
_____________________________________
I love the show. On episode 7 of the 4th season
Alan Oreman
_____________________________________
Great show with a lot of familiar TV faces playing the same roles from regular TV.
Murph
_____________________________________
I've never seen anything where the book and the movie are so similar. They literally film the book, dialogue and all. The books are great too btw.
Jim Urie
_____________________________________
are you a big fan of the opening sequence too? I love the song and imagery and my first thought when i saw Amazon pushed a new season was that I was about to get to see that opening.
Byron Clark
_____________________________________
Love "Bosch"....I have been achingly impatiently waiting for Season 4...seen the first two episodes and all the mystery clues that will show up in later episodes...I felt the 3 seasons were darker noir than this 4 season...Willever's less a worn mental case and now his ex seems to portray that in the gambling excess...just love the show and trying to savor it and not binge watch...see you in May....Pat Britton
_____________________________________
My good friend, Rick Jackson, is a recently retired LAPD homicide "cold case" detective and a technical advisor on the show. He used to come listen to me at at restaurant in Brea. Great guy. Great taste in music and chock full of cop stories about Hollywood and it's environs dating back to the '70s. It was so weird that I was friends with a cop based on music we have a mutual affinity and affection for.
Even though I knew that he was working on the show before the series even premiered, I didn't watch it. It wasn't until Season 3 was about to come out that I finally took the time. That was good, in the sense that I was able to binge on the first two, get hooked and Season 3 was waiting.
Rick came out to visit me here in NC last month. I was hoping he'd have access to a screener and lay It on me. But, alas, it wasn't to be.
But, the new season is here, I finished up my taxes last night and I'm ready.
Thanks for no spoilers !
Scott Sechman
_____________________________________
Hell, he was on deadwood, like most great actors in the past 15 years, who then migrated to justified and sons among others. Did not know the new season of Bosch had started until yesterday but am halfway through season four. Another show well worth the time
James Walker
_____________________________________
Connelly's books are great and are well worth the read - let you know more about Bosch's thoughts..
Dick Hassenger
_____________________________________
I have read every Connelly book, and Bosch is a masterpiece of a character. It actually translates to TV well. Connelly created incredible stories with this character.
Brad Durham
_____________________________________
The books are great too - the audiobooks even better. But This is the first show I've seen where the casting is so spot on - literally embodies the books in the best way!
Sandflower
_____________________________________
Love this show - been waiting for season 4, glad you wrote this so I know to download it for my flight to Australia this week. It's on my watch list but I didn't know it had released.
By the way, there are a few Bosch playlists on Spotify with all the jazz from the shows compiled - they are fantastic.
jwc
JW CLARKE | BIRDHOUSE GROUP, INC.
_____________________________________
Yeah... what you said. Right on!
Miranda Robert
_____________________________________
Love the show.
Titus Welliver is fantastic in the Bosch role. Finally, the strong, silent type character is back. Reminds me of Gary Cooper movies.
There is, seemingly, enough source material to keep the show going for a long time.
Would like to see this dovetail into a Micky Haller series too (or at least an appearance).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Haller
Seems like all the well written shows are under-publicized.
Mark Dinerstein
President
Knitting Factory Presents
_____________________________________
Thanks for the reminder about Season 4. Great show. You're not alone!
Dave Sparks
_____________________________________
Best show on TV
Charlie Newell
_____________________________________
Love Bosch
Loren Perkins
_____________________________________
Agree - I love Billions but we are so conditioned by Netflix, et al, to be able to watch when we want that it is excruciating to wait an entire week for the next episode. For that reason, I have decided to wait until the series is over and then go back and watch it on demand on my own terms.
David Murphy
_____________________________________
Bobby, I dun ben watchin the Boschman for a couple a years. You have good taste. Hated when second season ended but they're uppin runnin' again. yea!!!!
J. Patrick Mallahan
_____________________________________
I've shared your passion for Bosch from its beginning. I'm sure others have as well or there wouldn't be fourth season. There are a surprising number of high profile shows (writers, stars and/or directors) that silently disappear as if they never existed, slipping beneath the water in the dark of night without a ripple.
Never underestimate the metric analytical abilities of these platforms - others are watching.
Best
John Frankenheimer
_____________________________________
Thanks for the update on Bosch. I'd watched the first 3 seasons, checked about a month ago when there was as yet no online notice. I read the books years ago which is why I was interested in watching the series; the acting, visuals, match the feel of the novels. Agree with you in Titus, the others. Myles
Myles Schlank
_____________________________________
Big mistake not reading the books. They're terrific!
And yes, the show's very good.
Greer
_____________________________________
I read Hammett, Chandler, Macdonald in my youth. I've read every Connelly book. He hooks you in by page two every time.
Love the Bosch series. Titus is perfect as Harry. Can't picture anyone else.
Cliff Burnstein
_____________________________________
Actually, we do know it is on and have been waiting for the next season.
You are a little late to the party, as usual.
Wayne Krauss
_____________________________________
I REALLY like this series,,, so good!
Maria
_____________________________________
I love Bosch. Watched the season opener Thursday night (a day earlier than scheduled somehow).
Favorite line: "Mariachis, fuck. I'm outta here".
I cannot tell you how many time those exact words have crossed my lips since I moved here in 1972. It didn't take more than about a month of Mexican restaurant dining to push me over the edge and out the door at even the slightest pluck of a requinto.
This is OUR show, Angelenos!!!
p.s.: I know I'm gonna take shit for this. Not that I don't love mariachis; I just don't want 'em hovering over my table as I'm trying to enjoy my rellenos.
Greg Prestopino
_____________________________________
I'm right there with you, Bob! I love BOSCH series.
Peace & Love!
Bob Mori
_____________________________________
Watching this one again-it remains lackluster in my opinion. Welliver is passable but capturing a character like Bosch is virtually impossible. The side characters are only passable as well. I keep watching it but I wish it were better
Michael Harpster
_____________________________________
You're expressions on Bosch mirror how I feel about it. It's almost like I wrote your piece! I guess that's the effect this series has. Yes the cinematography, the perfectly selected cast, Titus, his relationship with his daughter (ours is the same age), his home right out of architecture digest, and finally the city of angels.
I'm looking forward to diving into season 4 this weekend!
Alex Hart
_____________________________________
Agree with you. Titus is Bosch and I read the books.
Found out about the new season on a bootleg site yesterday and just got the Prime notification of the new season a few minutes ago. It should be bigger, but I assume it lives forever on the net, so lots of time for folks to discover.
Yes, there are people of color, but one of the things I noticed about the show is that people look average. No Hollywood types. Much more like a UK cast show, full over average folks cast for ability over looks.
I was hoping to stretch the season over a week of travel, but suspect I'll finish it later today!
Peter Burnside
_____________________________________
Bob, I do know Titus buys his comics at Golden Apple comics
cuz that's where sold mine.
Bosch is a smash!
Right again.
DandyDon
_____________________________________
Check out the books. - The plots are intricate - the detective work is pure Zen
Love Bosch - GRT review!
Dave Nels
_____________________________________
We're watching and we're loving it also.
Rob Meder
_____________________________________
We watch. Big fans!
Guy Benson
_____________________________________
"Actually, I'm off genre tomes"
...but watching them on TV is great.
Are you trying to make ANY sense??
John Cunningham
_____________________________________
I'm a huge fan! (And, I've read all the books.) Marty and I will start the new season tonight.
Curtice Winsch
_____________________________________
Glad to see your shout-out on this show. I was hooked from the first episode, season 1. It, and its protagonist Welliver deserve a broader audience.
Roy Liu
_____________________________________
I too am hooked...but definitely a guys only series
Michael K. Clifford
_____________________________________
It's a modern noir classic and it's so cool that it's set in LA. Love it. Love running into actors from it.
Can't wait to binge watch season 4 with an ample supply of whiskey on hand....
Ned Menoyo
_____________________________________
I hear you Bob. I discovered Bosch about a year and a half ago and absolutely love the show. I too had a calendar notification that the show was back on and I can't wait to get to it. Cast is excellent as is the cinematography. Hope others will see it as well. Love your missives and am a fan of the pod.
Peace
Mad Music Asylum
_____________________________________
Bosch is great as is Titus Welliver. He was also on Deadwood. That's where I first remember him. Another great show is The Looming Tower. About the pre 9/11 battles between the CIA & FBI.
Well worth the time invested.
Brian Rome
_____________________________________
I love "Bosch," and if you didn't recognize Titus Welliver from the absolutely amazing "Deadwood," still some of the best work anyone ever's put on a screen, you should really give those 3 seasons of it a shot.
- David Orlowski
_____________________________________
I agree! Been a Connelly and Bosch freak for years and I knew Harry Bosch better than I know many of my friends. Took me a few episodes to grudgingly realize that Welliver is a great piece of casting. Now I'm sold. I love this show. I also think it has the best visual intro sequence/music combo of any show on any kind of TV! Currently on E.8, S.4. Bosch and Goliath are my two all time favorite Prime shows.
Jesse McRae
_____________________________________
Bosch is one of the few "season" shows that don't fatigue.
Richard Vogt
_____________________________________
I've been VERY curious about the series (read about it prior) since I've read all the books - and met Connelly at a book signing. I wonder if I'd like the cast? Not sure as Titus is not who I pictured to play Bosch AT ALL. But the main thing holding me back is the subscription, which I don't currently have or need. Maybe it will be on DVD at the library one of these days. But very happy to hear that it looks good!
Liz Redwing
_____________________________________
i kept falling asleep on i and couldn't get into it, but that could be just me. as long as you're on prime, check out 'sneaky pete'. first season was solid, second got off to a slow start but came to a slam bang finish that made me glad i stayed with it.
keep feeling better,
Chris Spector
_____________________________________
Welliver was the face of the Gentleman Jack brand (Jack Daniel's) some years back, when I was curating JD No.7 Live Music Programs.
Olie Kornelsen
_____________________________________
I was familiar with Titus Welliver from NYPD Blue. Bosch is a darn good show. Updating LA cop-noir. RJ Spangler
_____________________________________
Yes! We are watching! We even had Alexa's reminder set for last evening after NewsHour (which left us exhausted given yesterday's doings in the world we live in).
Joy! We had Bosch to watch. Binging for 2nd night, now... don't want it to end.
You put it perfectly, Bob. It is the real deal.
Glad to be a first adopter re Bosch 3rd & 4th seasons after consuming 1 & 2 when we first started using Prime, about a year ago.
Love good quality, this show is such a treat. The cast turns in great work using the wonderful writing & direction.
Lovely to be in your club for this one, Bob. Onward... | Trish Sears
_____________________________________
Titus does a great job. Took me a bit to warm up to him, tough character to nail from the page. Connelly's Bosch is second only to Dirty Harry,
Christian Svendsen
_____________________________________
Good call.
Good show (if not as great as you imply)...
Dave Curtis
_____________________________________
Bob here understands what I say.Streaming Netflix etc. is taking the place of music which used to drive the culture.Tech has replaced muic as the go to thing. Do you know how to code? I would like to learn but machines will soon code faster than humans so fuck that.
Paul Donsanto
_____________________________________
I'm a huge fan. Great open to Season 4.
Steve Brown
_____________________________________
Hey Bob....Bosch is a fave of mine too. Wellever is an actor who always delivers. Casting folks must breathe a sigh of relief when he comes on board. The only sad thing is, I will binge watch the whole season....and then it's wait for another year. Also...whole cast, Aquino, etc...even the small parts are interesting. Glad you like it too.
The best,
Steven Anders
_____________________________________
Anyone who's had a life touched by tragedy can relate to and appreciate Bosch--the character and the show. I think that's why my dad and I love it so much. I just finished season four about 10 minutes ago. A few of those moments hit a little too close to home, just like they should. Can't wait for more...
David Cook (Rome, GA)
_____________________________________
Thanks. LOVE the Connelly books
Alexia Erlichman
_____________________________________
BOSCH...with the huge snowstorm in MN this weekend, my pleasure came from Season 4.
Gary Wisner
_____________________________________
You GOT to read the books! The TV series is great, but the books have so many layers and nuances that cannot be translated on the screen.
They are superaddicitive though, so you should start reading them when you have a couple of slow days, because they will take over your life!!
Peter Chiesa
_____________________________________
'Bosch'? Absolutely. Every word of what you wrote. Fantastic show.
Hugo Burnham
_____________________________________
You're not the only one watching.
LOVE that show. It's pretty standard genre stuff but the acting and look are far above other shows. And WAY above other cop genre shows.
There is honestly nothing wrong with this show.
And yea, as an east coaster, it really makes me love LA. Maybe not in the same way as Randy Newman, but still ...
Keith R. Higgons
_____________________________________
Bob, you read all the time and yet you've never read a Bosch book? You're in for a treat when you do, but start with the earlier ones or else the arc of where he's at and what he's doing now will be confusing. Michael Connelly is as good as it gets in the genre.
And so is season 4, imo best one yet.
Buck McWilliams
_____________________________________
So mad at u! I've known about Bosch thru amazon prime but never watched - too busy with dozens of other shows on amazon, Netflix, showtime and hbo. Binged 3 episodes last night - love it! No sleep til...
Nathan Benditzson
_____________________________________
I've been in the fence with this one. Thanks to your letter, I'll check it out.
Yogaroots
_____________________________________
1) You're not alone. Welliver is perfect.
2) Connelly's Bosch books are an excellent picture of LA, the police, and politics. There are continuing characters across the books, making it really worthwhile to read them in sequence. And after you've been doing that for a while you realize how far down the road Connelly seems to have planned the arc of Bosch's story. Amazing He's written non-Bosch books, but with the exception of the Lincoln Lawyer series they lack the Bosch books vigor.
3) Bosch likes jazz. Connelly makes it a mark of his character.
4) Recommended reading, despite your genre aversion.
Greg Conniff
_____________________________________
Bosch is great. I always wonder how many wonderful shows I'm missing when I see a show like this.
Stephen Dietrich
_____________________________________
I tried two episodes of Bosch and just couldn't get excited about seeing a third.
Maybe I'll revisit it given your sterling review.
Burke Long
_____________________________________
Started to watch it recently and just settling into it. It's good and has a compelling flow...geez Mimi Rogers? Where has she been?
But given the power of word of mouth, how did I/us not hear about it during it's first four seasons? That's an eternity in this century. But then that happened to us with The Americans too. It's all new.
John Brodey
_____________________________________
Agree with you - TV shows are the new opium/escape. Too often though, the writers (well, the producers) string you along over 10-12 episodes, whereas the story could've been told in four or six. Not Bosch. Very little filler there - I binge watched it, back to back to back to back all day - two or three days ago, as soon as it got released. In fact, they had so much story I thought the final episode came too soon.
And the casting is brilliant - and Titus utterly convincing. Never read any of the Connelly novels either, but sure glad he wrote them and created this character.
Again, feel better and get well soon!
Namaste
AB
_____________________________________
Just discovered it last week. Watched first two episodes over the weekend.
It hasn't got its hooks totally in me yet but I'm sure it will.
Thanks for the confirmation Bob. Jack Lynady
_____________________________________
you are totally right about the series. It's kind of a sleeper and actually that's kind of cool because you know that everybody is him talking about it but people that you know who are watching at Pearl your cool friends
A couple of notes: the books are actually quite good. And they talked quite a bit about the jazz that he listens to that makes up some of the soundtrack to the show. One of the books in fact came with a CD at one point of some of the jazz he listens to with liner notes by the great jazz critic Gary Giddens Who my know from Grenell college. A lot of that music is collected in two or three Harry Bosch playlists on Spotify in a much more expanded form
genre books or not you want to pick up
Oohlikewowman
_____________________________________
As someone who has read all the Bosch books -- and who made a pilgrimage to Angels Flight and the Bradbury Building while in L.A. over New Year's -- I'll concede that I approached the TV series with a sense of dread. Favorite books almost never become favorite movies. But "Bosch" was, I'm happy to admit, good in Year 1 and has improved with every season. Year 4 is tremendous. It looks great, and it's now impossible for me to think of Harry Bosch without seeing Titus Welliver, which is the highest possible compliment. (After Alec Guinness portrayed George Smiley in the BBC's "Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy," even John le Carre saw only Guinness when he thought of his greatest creation.) "Bosch" isn't a touchstone in the Sopranos/Wire/Mad Men/Breaking Bad lineage of Peak TV, but it's a really, really good show.
Mark Bradley, Atlanta
_____________________________________
Spot on Bob. I was a big fan of Connelly's books -- which I couldn't put down -- and subsequently, I've been devouring each new season of Bosch as soon as it's released. Titus Welliver is perfect in the role: a modern-day Jim Rockford with a snazzy pad-with-a-view and a deep appreciation for jazz (my curated "Bosch Grooves" playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/michaeljoel/playlist/7gFeaMx4AMzzg0ZezWHnWB?si=r4M4tiJYQKS0cVBjcUArng).
Michael Kauffman
Clio Music Awards
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Jeffrey Fiskin
_____________________________________
A friend sent me your Bosch review yesterday. I loved it. It expressed what I have been saying/feeling.
I am certainly biased because my life partner is Bosch composer Jesse Voccia. From the sidelines and as a critical viewer, I have watched the show evolve over the past 5 years, from baby pilot to now. I just thought your comments were spot on and wanted to let you know how much I appreciated what you said. Also, thank you for reminding me that Amy Aquino played Tess's secretary in Working Girl. She was brilliant!
I did want to point out that unfortunately the music for Bosch is rarely mentioned - because of the style of the show, it is used sparingly to be sure. That is something that Jesse and I applaud and appreciate creatively. Most articles I read do not highlight the music or only mention the title sequence song (by a band), which bums me out because there's an enormous amount of work and care put into the score. In fact, one article I just read from Paste said, "With two notable exceptions, the entire series is completely devoid of background music, cues, or stings." I guess everyone's a critic, including me.
Thanks again and looking forward to reading more of your articles and checking out your podcast!
Warm regards,
Nori Takei
_____________________________________
yeah.... Bosch is a great solid keeper...
main guy earned his keep doing "Deadwood".... his partner did the same with "The Wire"... total cream of the crop people...
and they do show an LA/Hollywood akin to what Altman's "The Long Goodbye" did in the '70s... trying to connect to the noir aesthetic of the 40s and 50s
Patrick Pierson
_____________________________________
I love the show. On episode 7 of the 4th season
Alan Oreman
_____________________________________
Great show with a lot of familiar TV faces playing the same roles from regular TV.
Murph
_____________________________________
I've never seen anything where the book and the movie are so similar. They literally film the book, dialogue and all. The books are great too btw.
Jim Urie
_____________________________________
are you a big fan of the opening sequence too? I love the song and imagery and my first thought when i saw Amazon pushed a new season was that I was about to get to see that opening.
Byron Clark
_____________________________________
Love "Bosch"....I have been achingly impatiently waiting for Season 4...seen the first two episodes and all the mystery clues that will show up in later episodes...I felt the 3 seasons were darker noir than this 4 season...Willever's less a worn mental case and now his ex seems to portray that in the gambling excess...just love the show and trying to savor it and not binge watch...see you in May....Pat Britton
_____________________________________
My good friend, Rick Jackson, is a recently retired LAPD homicide "cold case" detective and a technical advisor on the show. He used to come listen to me at at restaurant in Brea. Great guy. Great taste in music and chock full of cop stories about Hollywood and it's environs dating back to the '70s. It was so weird that I was friends with a cop based on music we have a mutual affinity and affection for.
Even though I knew that he was working on the show before the series even premiered, I didn't watch it. It wasn't until Season 3 was about to come out that I finally took the time. That was good, in the sense that I was able to binge on the first two, get hooked and Season 3 was waiting.
Rick came out to visit me here in NC last month. I was hoping he'd have access to a screener and lay It on me. But, alas, it wasn't to be.
But, the new season is here, I finished up my taxes last night and I'm ready.
Thanks for no spoilers !
Scott Sechman
_____________________________________
Hell, he was on deadwood, like most great actors in the past 15 years, who then migrated to justified and sons among others. Did not know the new season of Bosch had started until yesterday but am halfway through season four. Another show well worth the time
James Walker
_____________________________________
Connelly's books are great and are well worth the read - let you know more about Bosch's thoughts..
Dick Hassenger
_____________________________________
I have read every Connelly book, and Bosch is a masterpiece of a character. It actually translates to TV well. Connelly created incredible stories with this character.
Brad Durham
_____________________________________
The books are great too - the audiobooks even better. But This is the first show I've seen where the casting is so spot on - literally embodies the books in the best way!
Sandflower
_____________________________________
Love this show - been waiting for season 4, glad you wrote this so I know to download it for my flight to Australia this week. It's on my watch list but I didn't know it had released.
By the way, there are a few Bosch playlists on Spotify with all the jazz from the shows compiled - they are fantastic.
jwc
JW CLARKE | BIRDHOUSE GROUP, INC.
_____________________________________
Yeah... what you said. Right on!
Miranda Robert
_____________________________________
Love the show.
Titus Welliver is fantastic in the Bosch role. Finally, the strong, silent type character is back. Reminds me of Gary Cooper movies.
There is, seemingly, enough source material to keep the show going for a long time.
Would like to see this dovetail into a Micky Haller series too (or at least an appearance).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Haller
Seems like all the well written shows are under-publicized.
Mark Dinerstein
President
Knitting Factory Presents
_____________________________________
Thanks for the reminder about Season 4. Great show. You're not alone!
Dave Sparks
_____________________________________
Best show on TV
Charlie Newell
_____________________________________
Love Bosch
Loren Perkins
_____________________________________
Agree - I love Billions but we are so conditioned by Netflix, et al, to be able to watch when we want that it is excruciating to wait an entire week for the next episode. For that reason, I have decided to wait until the series is over and then go back and watch it on demand on my own terms.
David Murphy
_____________________________________
Bobby, I dun ben watchin the Boschman for a couple a years. You have good taste. Hated when second season ended but they're uppin runnin' again. yea!!!!
J. Patrick Mallahan
_____________________________________
I've shared your passion for Bosch from its beginning. I'm sure others have as well or there wouldn't be fourth season. There are a surprising number of high profile shows (writers, stars and/or directors) that silently disappear as if they never existed, slipping beneath the water in the dark of night without a ripple.
Never underestimate the metric analytical abilities of these platforms - others are watching.
Best
John Frankenheimer
_____________________________________
Thanks for the update on Bosch. I'd watched the first 3 seasons, checked about a month ago when there was as yet no online notice. I read the books years ago which is why I was interested in watching the series; the acting, visuals, match the feel of the novels. Agree with you in Titus, the others. Myles
Myles Schlank
_____________________________________
Big mistake not reading the books. They're terrific!
And yes, the show's very good.
Greer
_____________________________________
I read Hammett, Chandler, Macdonald in my youth. I've read every Connelly book. He hooks you in by page two every time.
Love the Bosch series. Titus is perfect as Harry. Can't picture anyone else.
Cliff Burnstein
_____________________________________
Actually, we do know it is on and have been waiting for the next season.
You are a little late to the party, as usual.
Wayne Krauss
_____________________________________
I REALLY like this series,,, so good!
Maria
_____________________________________
I love Bosch. Watched the season opener Thursday night (a day earlier than scheduled somehow).
Favorite line: "Mariachis, fuck. I'm outta here".
I cannot tell you how many time those exact words have crossed my lips since I moved here in 1972. It didn't take more than about a month of Mexican restaurant dining to push me over the edge and out the door at even the slightest pluck of a requinto.
This is OUR show, Angelenos!!!
p.s.: I know I'm gonna take shit for this. Not that I don't love mariachis; I just don't want 'em hovering over my table as I'm trying to enjoy my rellenos.
Greg Prestopino
_____________________________________
I'm right there with you, Bob! I love BOSCH series.
Peace & Love!
Bob Mori
_____________________________________
Watching this one again-it remains lackluster in my opinion. Welliver is passable but capturing a character like Bosch is virtually impossible. The side characters are only passable as well. I keep watching it but I wish it were better
Michael Harpster
_____________________________________
You're expressions on Bosch mirror how I feel about it. It's almost like I wrote your piece! I guess that's the effect this series has. Yes the cinematography, the perfectly selected cast, Titus, his relationship with his daughter (ours is the same age), his home right out of architecture digest, and finally the city of angels.
I'm looking forward to diving into season 4 this weekend!
Alex Hart
_____________________________________
Agree with you. Titus is Bosch and I read the books.
Found out about the new season on a bootleg site yesterday and just got the Prime notification of the new season a few minutes ago. It should be bigger, but I assume it lives forever on the net, so lots of time for folks to discover.
Yes, there are people of color, but one of the things I noticed about the show is that people look average. No Hollywood types. Much more like a UK cast show, full over average folks cast for ability over looks.
I was hoping to stretch the season over a week of travel, but suspect I'll finish it later today!
Peter Burnside
_____________________________________
Bob, I do know Titus buys his comics at Golden Apple comics
cuz that's where sold mine.
Bosch is a smash!
Right again.
DandyDon
_____________________________________
Check out the books. - The plots are intricate - the detective work is pure Zen
Love Bosch - GRT review!
Dave Nels
_____________________________________
We're watching and we're loving it also.
Rob Meder
_____________________________________
We watch. Big fans!
Guy Benson
_____________________________________
"Actually, I'm off genre tomes"
...but watching them on TV is great.
Are you trying to make ANY sense??
John Cunningham
_____________________________________
I'm a huge fan! (And, I've read all the books.) Marty and I will start the new season tonight.
Curtice Winsch
_____________________________________
Glad to see your shout-out on this show. I was hooked from the first episode, season 1. It, and its protagonist Welliver deserve a broader audience.
Roy Liu
_____________________________________
I too am hooked...but definitely a guys only series
Michael K. Clifford
_____________________________________
It's a modern noir classic and it's so cool that it's set in LA. Love it. Love running into actors from it.
Can't wait to binge watch season 4 with an ample supply of whiskey on hand....
Ned Menoyo
_____________________________________
I hear you Bob. I discovered Bosch about a year and a half ago and absolutely love the show. I too had a calendar notification that the show was back on and I can't wait to get to it. Cast is excellent as is the cinematography. Hope others will see it as well. Love your missives and am a fan of the pod.
Peace
Mad Music Asylum
_____________________________________
Bosch is great as is Titus Welliver. He was also on Deadwood. That's where I first remember him. Another great show is The Looming Tower. About the pre 9/11 battles between the CIA & FBI.
Well worth the time invested.
Brian Rome
_____________________________________
I love "Bosch," and if you didn't recognize Titus Welliver from the absolutely amazing "Deadwood," still some of the best work anyone ever's put on a screen, you should really give those 3 seasons of it a shot.
- David Orlowski
_____________________________________
I agree! Been a Connelly and Bosch freak for years and I knew Harry Bosch better than I know many of my friends. Took me a few episodes to grudgingly realize that Welliver is a great piece of casting. Now I'm sold. I love this show. I also think it has the best visual intro sequence/music combo of any show on any kind of TV! Currently on E.8, S.4. Bosch and Goliath are my two all time favorite Prime shows.
Jesse McRae
_____________________________________
Bosch is one of the few "season" shows that don't fatigue.
Richard Vogt
_____________________________________
I've been VERY curious about the series (read about it prior) since I've read all the books - and met Connelly at a book signing. I wonder if I'd like the cast? Not sure as Titus is not who I pictured to play Bosch AT ALL. But the main thing holding me back is the subscription, which I don't currently have or need. Maybe it will be on DVD at the library one of these days. But very happy to hear that it looks good!
Liz Redwing
_____________________________________
i kept falling asleep on i and couldn't get into it, but that could be just me. as long as you're on prime, check out 'sneaky pete'. first season was solid, second got off to a slow start but came to a slam bang finish that made me glad i stayed with it.
keep feeling better,
Chris Spector
_____________________________________
Welliver was the face of the Gentleman Jack brand (Jack Daniel's) some years back, when I was curating JD No.7 Live Music Programs.
Olie Kornelsen
_____________________________________
I was familiar with Titus Welliver from NYPD Blue. Bosch is a darn good show. Updating LA cop-noir. RJ Spangler
_____________________________________
Yes! We are watching! We even had Alexa's reminder set for last evening after NewsHour (which left us exhausted given yesterday's doings in the world we live in).
Joy! We had Bosch to watch. Binging for 2nd night, now... don't want it to end.
You put it perfectly, Bob. It is the real deal.
Glad to be a first adopter re Bosch 3rd & 4th seasons after consuming 1 & 2 when we first started using Prime, about a year ago.
Love good quality, this show is such a treat. The cast turns in great work using the wonderful writing & direction.
Lovely to be in your club for this one, Bob. Onward... | Trish Sears
_____________________________________
Titus does a great job. Took me a bit to warm up to him, tough character to nail from the page. Connelly's Bosch is second only to Dirty Harry,
Christian Svendsen
_____________________________________
Good call.
Good show (if not as great as you imply)...
Dave Curtis
_____________________________________
Bob here understands what I say.Streaming Netflix etc. is taking the place of music which used to drive the culture.Tech has replaced muic as the go to thing. Do you know how to code? I would like to learn but machines will soon code faster than humans so fuck that.
Paul Donsanto
_____________________________________
I'm a huge fan. Great open to Season 4.
Steve Brown
_____________________________________
Hey Bob....Bosch is a fave of mine too. Wellever is an actor who always delivers. Casting folks must breathe a sigh of relief when he comes on board. The only sad thing is, I will binge watch the whole season....and then it's wait for another year. Also...whole cast, Aquino, etc...even the small parts are interesting. Glad you like it too.
The best,
Steven Anders
_____________________________________
Anyone who's had a life touched by tragedy can relate to and appreciate Bosch--the character and the show. I think that's why my dad and I love it so much. I just finished season four about 10 minutes ago. A few of those moments hit a little too close to home, just like they should. Can't wait for more...
David Cook (Rome, GA)
_____________________________________
Thanks. LOVE the Connelly books
Alexia Erlichman
_____________________________________
BOSCH...with the huge snowstorm in MN this weekend, my pleasure came from Season 4.
Gary Wisner
_____________________________________
You GOT to read the books! The TV series is great, but the books have so many layers and nuances that cannot be translated on the screen.
They are superaddicitive though, so you should start reading them when you have a couple of slow days, because they will take over your life!!
Peter Chiesa
_____________________________________
'Bosch'? Absolutely. Every word of what you wrote. Fantastic show.
Hugo Burnham
_____________________________________
You're not the only one watching.
LOVE that show. It's pretty standard genre stuff but the acting and look are far above other shows. And WAY above other cop genre shows.
There is honestly nothing wrong with this show.
And yea, as an east coaster, it really makes me love LA. Maybe not in the same way as Randy Newman, but still ...
Keith R. Higgons
_____________________________________
Bob, you read all the time and yet you've never read a Bosch book? You're in for a treat when you do, but start with the earlier ones or else the arc of where he's at and what he's doing now will be confusing. Michael Connelly is as good as it gets in the genre.
And so is season 4, imo best one yet.
Buck McWilliams
_____________________________________
So mad at u! I've known about Bosch thru amazon prime but never watched - too busy with dozens of other shows on amazon, Netflix, showtime and hbo. Binged 3 episodes last night - love it! No sleep til...
Nathan Benditzson
_____________________________________
I've been in the fence with this one. Thanks to your letter, I'll check it out.
Yogaroots
_____________________________________
1) You're not alone. Welliver is perfect.
2) Connelly's Bosch books are an excellent picture of LA, the police, and politics. There are continuing characters across the books, making it really worthwhile to read them in sequence. And after you've been doing that for a while you realize how far down the road Connelly seems to have planned the arc of Bosch's story. Amazing He's written non-Bosch books, but with the exception of the Lincoln Lawyer series they lack the Bosch books vigor.
3) Bosch likes jazz. Connelly makes it a mark of his character.
4) Recommended reading, despite your genre aversion.
Greg Conniff
_____________________________________
Bosch is great. I always wonder how many wonderful shows I'm missing when I see a show like this.
Stephen Dietrich
_____________________________________
I tried two episodes of Bosch and just couldn't get excited about seeing a third.
Maybe I'll revisit it given your sterling review.
Burke Long
_____________________________________
Started to watch it recently and just settling into it. It's good and has a compelling flow...geez Mimi Rogers? Where has she been?
But given the power of word of mouth, how did I/us not hear about it during it's first four seasons? That's an eternity in this century. But then that happened to us with The Americans too. It's all new.
John Brodey
_____________________________________
Agree with you - TV shows are the new opium/escape. Too often though, the writers (well, the producers) string you along over 10-12 episodes, whereas the story could've been told in four or six. Not Bosch. Very little filler there - I binge watched it, back to back to back to back all day - two or three days ago, as soon as it got released. In fact, they had so much story I thought the final episode came too soon.
And the casting is brilliant - and Titus utterly convincing. Never read any of the Connelly novels either, but sure glad he wrote them and created this character.
Again, feel better and get well soon!
Namaste
AB
_____________________________________
Just discovered it last week. Watched first two episodes over the weekend.
It hasn't got its hooks totally in me yet but I'm sure it will.
Thanks for the confirmation Bob. Jack Lynady
_____________________________________
you are totally right about the series. It's kind of a sleeper and actually that's kind of cool because you know that everybody is him talking about it but people that you know who are watching at Pearl your cool friends
A couple of notes: the books are actually quite good. And they talked quite a bit about the jazz that he listens to that makes up some of the soundtrack to the show. One of the books in fact came with a CD at one point of some of the jazz he listens to with liner notes by the great jazz critic Gary Giddens Who my know from Grenell college. A lot of that music is collected in two or three Harry Bosch playlists on Spotify in a much more expanded form
genre books or not you want to pick up
Oohlikewowman
_____________________________________
As someone who has read all the Bosch books -- and who made a pilgrimage to Angels Flight and the Bradbury Building while in L.A. over New Year's -- I'll concede that I approached the TV series with a sense of dread. Favorite books almost never become favorite movies. But "Bosch" was, I'm happy to admit, good in Year 1 and has improved with every season. Year 4 is tremendous. It looks great, and it's now impossible for me to think of Harry Bosch without seeing Titus Welliver, which is the highest possible compliment. (After Alec Guinness portrayed George Smiley in the BBC's "Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy," even John le Carre saw only Guinness when he thought of his greatest creation.) "Bosch" isn't a touchstone in the Sopranos/Wire/Mad Men/Breaking Bad lineage of Peak TV, but it's a really, really good show.
Mark Bradley, Atlanta
_____________________________________
Spot on Bob. I was a big fan of Connelly's books -- which I couldn't put down -- and subsequently, I've been devouring each new season of Bosch as soon as it's released. Titus Welliver is perfect in the role: a modern-day Jim Rockford with a snazzy pad-with-a-view and a deep appreciation for jazz (my curated "Bosch Grooves" playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/michaeljoel/playlist/7gFeaMx4AMzzg0ZezWHnWB?si=r4M4tiJYQKS0cVBjcUArng).
Michael Kauffman
Clio Music Awards
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Coachella
The institution is bigger than the acts.
You can't play Coachella every year, but you can go there.
For decades, the touring business was talent based, but the burgeoning festival scene has turned that paradigm on its ear.
When rock music started to break out with the Beatles the promoter made the lion's share of the money. Then Peter Grant realized Led Zeppelin was gonna sell out no matter what and he flipped the script, now the act got 90%. And then came the days of Jimmy Buffett, when his Parrothead following would drink and buy merch and Jimmy got 110%, the promoter knowing it would make it up on the ancillaries.
Looks like bad business, right?
WRONG!
Never forget that the promoter is the one who pays, who's got all the money. While the labels tried to rip off their acts to make up their margins, with 360 deals, the promoter paid and paid, making it up on ticketing and sponsorship and ultimately festivals.
That's right, the initial Coachellas were a disaster, to the point where the festival was sold to AEG. And now...it's the highest grossing "concert" in the world.
Think about that, the promoter invested in its future, what did the label do?
Meanwhile, the labels are finally being challenged by DIY. Their only hope is control of playlists, which they're doing a mighty fine job of, but their physical distribution power is now passe and as for radio...it means less and less every day.
Meanwhile, this is the year the younger generation has taken over at festivals. About time, since the younger generation in acts are people like Eminem, who's been around for twenty years, and Beyonce, fifteen. The classic rock acts have been shoved aside, along with the alternative favorites of Gen-X.
And now you go to the festival not to experience the music so much as hang with your buds and have a good time. Meanwhile, they keep enhancing the experience, with better food and amenities.
How did the acts become second-class citizens?
That's right, Coachella sells out with no acts announced. And despite the hosannas heaped on Beyonce and a stream of her performance on YouTube, one wonders why it doesn't stay up for all time, the festival is much bigger than she is, and will outlast her.
This is what Justin Timberlake didn't realize about the Super Bowl, it supersedes him!
So what we've got are savvy promoters who've augured the future and seized it...
And me-too acts that don't realize they're fungible.
Coachella just needs someone on stage, not YOU! Especially those on the undercard.
And there is an endless parade of deejays to fill the Sahara Tent, the real musical draw, and now that pop acts have infiltrated the scene...there are much broader pickings.
So think about it. If you've got limited cash, you're better off going to the festival than any specific show. You can see more and get closer and hang with your friends to boot.
Sure, there's a club scene for the highly dedicated, but this business has always been built upon the whims of the once in a whiles, for a long time Rapino said Live Nation's customer only went once a year. Well, if they're going to a festival they're laying down a whole hell of a lot more cash than they are at the arena.
This is a sea change.
For the promoter...they make a lot more money, they pay a flat fee to the acts and reap the rest, this is no 90/10 deal.
For the attendee...they get to see many acts for one fee, and have a good time roving the premises with their friends.
For the acts...sure, they can get a big payday, but not every year, and the undercard is privileged to play and gets paid accordingly.
Welcome to the new era, where the promoter is king.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
You can't play Coachella every year, but you can go there.
For decades, the touring business was talent based, but the burgeoning festival scene has turned that paradigm on its ear.
When rock music started to break out with the Beatles the promoter made the lion's share of the money. Then Peter Grant realized Led Zeppelin was gonna sell out no matter what and he flipped the script, now the act got 90%. And then came the days of Jimmy Buffett, when his Parrothead following would drink and buy merch and Jimmy got 110%, the promoter knowing it would make it up on the ancillaries.
Looks like bad business, right?
WRONG!
Never forget that the promoter is the one who pays, who's got all the money. While the labels tried to rip off their acts to make up their margins, with 360 deals, the promoter paid and paid, making it up on ticketing and sponsorship and ultimately festivals.
That's right, the initial Coachellas were a disaster, to the point where the festival was sold to AEG. And now...it's the highest grossing "concert" in the world.
Think about that, the promoter invested in its future, what did the label do?
Meanwhile, the labels are finally being challenged by DIY. Their only hope is control of playlists, which they're doing a mighty fine job of, but their physical distribution power is now passe and as for radio...it means less and less every day.
Meanwhile, this is the year the younger generation has taken over at festivals. About time, since the younger generation in acts are people like Eminem, who's been around for twenty years, and Beyonce, fifteen. The classic rock acts have been shoved aside, along with the alternative favorites of Gen-X.
And now you go to the festival not to experience the music so much as hang with your buds and have a good time. Meanwhile, they keep enhancing the experience, with better food and amenities.
How did the acts become second-class citizens?
That's right, Coachella sells out with no acts announced. And despite the hosannas heaped on Beyonce and a stream of her performance on YouTube, one wonders why it doesn't stay up for all time, the festival is much bigger than she is, and will outlast her.
This is what Justin Timberlake didn't realize about the Super Bowl, it supersedes him!
So what we've got are savvy promoters who've augured the future and seized it...
And me-too acts that don't realize they're fungible.
Coachella just needs someone on stage, not YOU! Especially those on the undercard.
And there is an endless parade of deejays to fill the Sahara Tent, the real musical draw, and now that pop acts have infiltrated the scene...there are much broader pickings.
So think about it. If you've got limited cash, you're better off going to the festival than any specific show. You can see more and get closer and hang with your friends to boot.
Sure, there's a club scene for the highly dedicated, but this business has always been built upon the whims of the once in a whiles, for a long time Rapino said Live Nation's customer only went once a year. Well, if they're going to a festival they're laying down a whole hell of a lot more cash than they are at the arena.
This is a sea change.
For the promoter...they make a lot more money, they pay a flat fee to the acts and reap the rest, this is no 90/10 deal.
For the attendee...they get to see many acts for one fee, and have a good time roving the premises with their friends.
For the acts...sure, they can get a big payday, but not every year, and the undercard is privileged to play and gets paid accordingly.
Welcome to the new era, where the promoter is king.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Creativity
Is about challenging preconceptions, surprising us, delivering the unexpected.
I just got finished watching John Oliver. The funniest part was the MSNBC newscaster who kept quoting rap lyrics to make his point, making himself look ridiculous in the process. And then there was a long expose on corporate taxes, which I actually am very familiar with, devouring three newspapers a day and surfing stories online in between. Nothing makes me angrier than ignorance, which is plentiful, every day I hear people speak inanities and untruths with soulful conviction, and if I bother to correct them, which I've learned not to, they get all puffed up and say I'm the problem and I'm wrong which is why I've ceased doing this. America is all about getting along, especially amongst millennials, and then someone jumps the track, delivers the unexpected, and you're wowed.
Now let's be clear, this is not about more cheese on your nachos, more explosions in your movie, no, creativity is an intellectual thing, it speaks to your brain, not your wallet, and when it resonates...you're thrilled.
This was the essence of the sixties, this is why the right wing excoriates that decade, because of the decision by young people to question norms and authorities and wow the audience, in the arts, in clothing, in expression... Believe me, you didn't swear in public like they did in the sixties previously, there was no such thing as free love, although the birth control pill helped, remember tie-dye? It wasn't about fashion, so much as self-expression, letting your freak flag fly, which no one does anymore unless they're trying to gain followers on Instagram.
But this creativity was evidenced most in art. It was about pushing limits. Look at album covers, which started as commercial art and ended up an art form unto themselves. But even more were the records...there was a constant testing of the limits, whether it be Frank Zappa with the first double album and then the "Sgt. Pepper" parody "We're Only In It For The Money," or the Doors' "The End." And it was in movies and theatre, how about the nude scene in "Hair"? Never underestimate the power of shock, can you say "I Am Curious (Yellow)"?
And just when the John Oliver show was winding down, when it looked like it was over, the host starts talking about this Russel Crowe divorce auction, and its overpriced, irrelevant items.
But it wasn't a joke. Actually, it was. After making fun of the items for sale, after lambasting the person who purchased a jock strap for seven thousand dollars, Oliver revealed it was HIM!
The show bought so much crap, to deliver to the sole remaining Blockbuster store in Alaska.
This is not Jimmy Fallon trying to create viral material, this is a bunch of hooligans trying to freak out and crack up their audience. This is why you used to go to the live show, FOR THE UNEXPECTED! When it was clear who the stars were, not the people in the audience, and you had to have talent to stand on stage.
It was kind of like tech in the last twenty years, we were addicted to the creative explosion of the sixties. There were books, like Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle," when you read the liner notes for Dead albums and saw the publishing company was Ice Nine, you were clued in. There was Richard Brautigan's "Trout Fishing In America," there was even "Bob & Ted & Carol & Alice."
And sure everybody wanted to make money, but there were no billionaires, and you could make it on minimum wage. Science was putting men on the moon, but art was keeping us fulfilled.
Back when the building blocks were taught in school, before home schooling was invented, when we were all in it together trying to find our way.
It's these creative moments that make life worth living. But they're hard to make and have been superseded by a focus on cash. I'll never forget Fee Waybill running around the Roxy with his chainsaw humming during the "Rock and Roll Hospital" number, which never made it to a Tubes album, but the experience was just that indelible.
And it's funny how comedians are testing limits, when way back when George Carlin had to can his act and reinvent it to truly succeed, comedy was not a leader in the days of yore.
I'm waiting, surprise me.
Start at the 24 minute point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK1CqSyII24
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
I just got finished watching John Oliver. The funniest part was the MSNBC newscaster who kept quoting rap lyrics to make his point, making himself look ridiculous in the process. And then there was a long expose on corporate taxes, which I actually am very familiar with, devouring three newspapers a day and surfing stories online in between. Nothing makes me angrier than ignorance, which is plentiful, every day I hear people speak inanities and untruths with soulful conviction, and if I bother to correct them, which I've learned not to, they get all puffed up and say I'm the problem and I'm wrong which is why I've ceased doing this. America is all about getting along, especially amongst millennials, and then someone jumps the track, delivers the unexpected, and you're wowed.
Now let's be clear, this is not about more cheese on your nachos, more explosions in your movie, no, creativity is an intellectual thing, it speaks to your brain, not your wallet, and when it resonates...you're thrilled.
This was the essence of the sixties, this is why the right wing excoriates that decade, because of the decision by young people to question norms and authorities and wow the audience, in the arts, in clothing, in expression... Believe me, you didn't swear in public like they did in the sixties previously, there was no such thing as free love, although the birth control pill helped, remember tie-dye? It wasn't about fashion, so much as self-expression, letting your freak flag fly, which no one does anymore unless they're trying to gain followers on Instagram.
But this creativity was evidenced most in art. It was about pushing limits. Look at album covers, which started as commercial art and ended up an art form unto themselves. But even more were the records...there was a constant testing of the limits, whether it be Frank Zappa with the first double album and then the "Sgt. Pepper" parody "We're Only In It For The Money," or the Doors' "The End." And it was in movies and theatre, how about the nude scene in "Hair"? Never underestimate the power of shock, can you say "I Am Curious (Yellow)"?
And just when the John Oliver show was winding down, when it looked like it was over, the host starts talking about this Russel Crowe divorce auction, and its overpriced, irrelevant items.
But it wasn't a joke. Actually, it was. After making fun of the items for sale, after lambasting the person who purchased a jock strap for seven thousand dollars, Oliver revealed it was HIM!
The show bought so much crap, to deliver to the sole remaining Blockbuster store in Alaska.
This is not Jimmy Fallon trying to create viral material, this is a bunch of hooligans trying to freak out and crack up their audience. This is why you used to go to the live show, FOR THE UNEXPECTED! When it was clear who the stars were, not the people in the audience, and you had to have talent to stand on stage.
It was kind of like tech in the last twenty years, we were addicted to the creative explosion of the sixties. There were books, like Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle," when you read the liner notes for Dead albums and saw the publishing company was Ice Nine, you were clued in. There was Richard Brautigan's "Trout Fishing In America," there was even "Bob & Ted & Carol & Alice."
And sure everybody wanted to make money, but there were no billionaires, and you could make it on minimum wage. Science was putting men on the moon, but art was keeping us fulfilled.
Back when the building blocks were taught in school, before home schooling was invented, when we were all in it together trying to find our way.
It's these creative moments that make life worth living. But they're hard to make and have been superseded by a focus on cash. I'll never forget Fee Waybill running around the Roxy with his chainsaw humming during the "Rock and Roll Hospital" number, which never made it to a Tubes album, but the experience was just that indelible.
And it's funny how comedians are testing limits, when way back when George Carlin had to can his act and reinvent it to truly succeed, comedy was not a leader in the days of yore.
I'm waiting, surprise me.
Start at the 24 minute point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK1CqSyII24
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25
-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)