In honor of esteemed jazz critic and Coltrane biographer Francis Davis coming on the show today. We couldn’t be more proud. Francis rocks! More than you’d think for a man called Francis. But it’s true. You’ll see.
Readers Write: Me Talk Pretty Some Day
The Dean Is Not Amused Dear Jonathan, Your notes got a few things wrong, but it’s always been my supicion [sic] that the summation method often beats the direct quote method anyway. Thanks for doing it. Robert Christgau Dear Dean of American Rock Critics, Okay, so what’s my grade, Dean? Jonathan Valania Dear Jonathan, I never give them out. Robert Christgau Dear Dean of American Rock Critics, Dag. I really did want one, just for bragging rights. I give it a solid B, woulda been great with the Q&A or written as such but in a forum that would allow […]
Eva Says: The Shadow Knows
Concert reviews. We’ll have at least one a week of the one show we’d actually go to even if we weren’t getting in for free. I’d write it myself, but frankly, the pay stinks. That’s why we’re sending Eva Liao. Because she is young and hungry and we are old and full. Eva is 22 years old and from Los Angeles. Her favorite band is the Velvet Underground. That’s why we hired her. Eva goes to Temple. Some would call her an intern, but we call her Editorial Assistant because we believe the media should empower young people, not belittle […]
Later Today: Grumpy Old Men Part 2
The second installment of our Grumpy Old Men series, wherein we learn from our elders. Yesterday we had Robert Christgau, today Francis Davis. Tomorrow? The Pope. What’s that you say? You never heard of Francis Davis. Oh Buddy, it’s good thing you found us! Check out his CV: He has written about music, film, and other aspects of popular culture for The Atlantic since 1984 and was appointed lead jazz critic for the Voice in 2004. He was jazz critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1982 to 1996, jazz editor of Musician from 1982 to 1985, and a staff writer […]
We Know It’s Only Rock N’ Roll But We Like It
Up In Toke: The War On Drugs in clear violation of the smoking ban, Johnny Brenda’s, October 12th, 2006
PBR: Reggie Brown Is NOT Rick James, Bitch!
The biggest source of suck for regional sports networks like the ever-metastasizing Comcast SportsNet franchise is that after the games end, there’s a lot of airtime to fill. There’s only so much pre- and post-game analysis the audience can metabolize before they get the runs. Ditto the newspaper-sponsored round tables where goateed talking heads play devil’s advocate and rehash yesterday’s analysis. What you’re left with is LOTS of paid programming, the occasional CFL grudge match between Hamilton and Calgary and “original” programming like the trainwreck I forced myself to watch last night: CSN’s Monday Night Live. The premise: the likeable, […]
Grumpy Old Men: Christgau Speaks!
Welcome to the first of installment of our Grumpy Old Men series, wherein we learn from our elders and soak up all their salty yarns like a Bounty Quicker-Picker Upper. Because we here at Phawker believe that both the old and the young are largely disenfranchised by the MSM. More for us, we say. This what they call a Talking Dog Story. It’s not so important what the dog said, it’s that he talked at all. Late last month Robert Christgau, the Dean of American Rock Critics, was knocked off his longtime perch at the Village Voice by the hatchet […]
Peeple: Frankly, Scarlett We Actually Give A Damn For A Change
Okay, here’s your daily celebrity dirt, bitches. Admittedly, the 215 hook is a bit of a stretch but here it is: We know Tom Waits and we live in the 215. Seriously, you can come over to our place and see the pictures. Actually, you can’t because we never open the door for strangers but there ARE pictures. Anyway, peep this: Scarlett [Johansson], I am told, has signed a deal to make her first record. “Scarlett Sings Tom Waits” is being recorded now and through the winter, with a possible release next spring from Rhino Records’ recently reactivated Atco label. […]
Reader Writes: You Don’t Know The Power Of The Forces Arrayed Against You
Hat tip to concerned reader/serial Photoshopper Wayne Hamilton. Thanks Wayne, now get back to work or we’re gonna show this to your boss. And for the record, we are NOT afraid of Mickey Mouse.
EXCLUSIVE: Darren, In Defense Of Men In Speedos
FYI, this is an outtake from Marc Brodzik‘s re-make of Hello My Name Is Darren, currently in production.
Cover Wars: Whose Artfag Kung-Fu Is Stronger?
Let us introduce you to another regular feature: Cover Wars, in which we will make an entirely subjective call on which alt-weekly has the best-looking cover each week. (FULL DISCLOSURE: Yes, we do tapdance about architecture for PW, but they will get no special treatment from us, paybacks bein’ a bitch, an’ all. Unless they give me a raise, in which case, they win every week). In this corner, we have PW’s Sara Green, a gifted newcomer — and in full-posession of a “great rack”, or so we hear, sorry but we did hear that, so get off your high […]
Pot Calls Kettle: Inky’s Satullo Responds To PW Story Calling Inky Casino Coverage Shoddy; Calls PW Story ‘Shoddy’
Because it’s infinitely more fun to stage these media cockfights instead of being in them, and because this issue is too damn important to be left to the pros, we thought we’d throw a little fuel on a dimming fire. To recap, two weeks ago, PW‘s Steve Volk debuted a new media-watchdog column called Tierney Watch, wherein he wrote a piece about the Inky’s coverage of the casino issue, with all the manifold complications, shortcomings and conflict-of-interest duly noted, and gave the anti-casino activists a chance to weigh in and then let various Inky bigwigs respond. You can read it […]
We Know It’s Only Rock N’ Roll But We Like It
I Stood Up And I Said ‘Yeah’: Flaming Lips, Allentown Fair, August 31st