Apr
Posted on 8th April 2009
Wednesdays- am I right or am I right? Anyway, above are a couple spots I did for Cinemax this past fall while covering the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, which is in Canada. I hope you really love a whole bunch.
In other news, here is a photo of me just hanging out on a completely average day at home. And speaking of incredible, here is a free download from my rock band Valley Lodge. This is called “If It Takes All Night” and is from our classic debut album.
Apr
Posted on 7th April 2009
Hi there. I just wanted to let you know that this Wednesday, April 15 at 8pm I am going to be once again hosting the fuck out of “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now,” the incredible night of Smiths (and Morrissey) music and speed dating that I have cooked up in my spare time. As usual, it is going to be happening at the Black Rabbit Bar in Greenpoint, one of the best bars in all of North America. If you like the Smiths, Morrissey, and/or banging, you should totally come. You don’t have to speed date if you don’t want. You can just hang out and listen to the great music and drink or not drink stuff. Really, it could happen a lot of different ways. Please come. It is free. If you don’t have a good time you can punch me in the nuts. See you there! Okay, thanks.
Apr
Posted on 7th April 2009
Hi there. A little while back I covered New York Comic Con 2009 for the Cinemax, the popular premium cable network. Here are a couple videos from that magical day that were also on Cinemax, mentioned earlier. I hope you enjoy them so much.
Apr
Posted on 6th April 2009
Yesterday, I went to Duane Reade, the popular Manhattan drug store chain where- no matter how many times I go there- I can never find what I’m looking for (It’s me, Duane Reade, not you). Anyway, as I was making my last lap around the place, I happened to notice this big steaming pile of crap next to the pharmacy counter. It was so fresh I could feel the steam on my face. Moments before this discovery, I saw a guy with a dog on a leash walking out of the store all like “Thank you, have a great day!” It’s hard to believe he didn’t notice that his dog took a big crap on the floor, you know, since the dog was on a leash and presumably no more than two feet away from him at any point during his to Duane Reade, where I am a proud member of the Dollar Rewards Club. The part of me that hates people who don’t take responsibility for shit (literally, in this case) got a tiny bit angry about the whole thing. But then the part of me that loves dogs and thinks it’s funny when they take craps where they’re not supposed to quickly won over and I just smiled really big and took this photo. I tried to get a close-up shot but then I thought the pharmacy lady would think I was with the health department or something. And- as long as we’re on the topic- it just killed me that the dog didn’t take a crap in an actual aisle of the store because then I couldn’t say “Clean-up on aisle six!” Man, that would have been awesome. When will I ever get that chance again? Dammit.
In a related story, also during my visit to Duane Reade yesterday, I happened upon these earplugs that are specifically made for ladies. They come in a really feminine hot pink color and everything. I think it’s really great that a product like this finally exists. I had a female friend who wore totally regular earplugs once and now everyone thinks she is a total lesbo. Too bad she didn’t know about these- the earplugs that let everyone know you’re a lady. Now she is going to die alone after a lifetime of being hit on by lesbians who completely got the wrong idea about her. Life is cruel.
Apr
Posted on 6th April 2009
I’ve been spending way too much time screwing around with iMovie and YouTube and making these little videos lately, but here is a new video I made using clips of Bollywood movies set to “All of My Loving” by my rock band Valley Lodge (you know, the band that I won’t shut up about). Anyway, I hope you enjoy it a whole bunch.
Apr
Posted on 4th April 2009
I had a five-hour plane delay at the Akron-Canton airport yesterday, and among my many accomplishments during this downtime, I made a music video for my unstoppable rock band Valley Lodge’s song “Hanging On” using footage of Pankun and James, the unstoppable Japanese chimp/bulldog duo. I hope you enjoy it so much.
Oh, and speaking of Valley Lodge, our hot new record “Semester at Sea” is now available at CD Baby too. Go buy it or something. Or download it for free somewhere. See what I care. I’m in it for the art.
Apr
Posted on 1st April 2009
Here is the latest from my good buddies Stone and Stone, whom you no doubt remember from this groundbreaking video:
I can never decide which one is my favorite, Stone or Stone. Either way, these guys are from the future. Stone is a better dresser than Stone though. That much I can tell you for sure. Sorry, Stone, but have you taken a look at Stone lately? At least try to keep up, okay?
Apr
Posted on 1st April 2009
Here’s a new jam from my buddy Gian. It’s about our home away from home, Italy, the place I want to be brought to die after I spent about 20 years in Japan.
Apr
Posted on 1st April 2009
As rumored on the Internet, I am going to be a part of the upcoming live version of the popular “This American Life” radio program (which I have been on before, like this time, for example), which is called “This American Life- Live!” It’s pretty much all right there in the title. Ira Glass and crew are going to do their incredible radio show (which, for the record, is the most popular public radio program and podcast in the known world) live on stage in New York City on April 23rd and the whole thing is going to be broadcast live in like 400 movie theaters across the country. Crazy, right? Anyway, joining Ira will be some of the show’s favorite contributors, including Dan Savage, Starlee Kine, Mike Birbiglia, Josh Whedon, David Rakoff, Chris Ware, and Arthur Jones. And I, Dave Hill, mentioned earlier will be a part of the mayhem too, believe it or not, despite my shortcomings. I will be conducting a “special investigation” with David Rakoff. Brace yourself.
You can get the full scoop on tickets and also a clearer explanation of things right here. Or simply read the official press release, written by a far more reasonable person than I, below. Seriously, it’s going to be a great show. I can’t wait for all the public radio sex I am going to be having as a result of this whole thing. It’s like- don’t even get me started. “Here, baby- let me set those glasses on the nightstand for you. Mmmm, that’s right.”
Oh yeah, the press release:
“Movie tickets are on sale NOW for This American Life—Live!, our stage show that will be beamed via satellite to more than 400 movie screens nationwide on Thursday, April 23rd.
Ira Glass will host an actual episode of the radio program, performed onstage by some of our favorite contributors. Dan Savage, Starlee Kine, and Mike Birbiglia will tell stories. David Rakoff and Dave Hill will conduct a ‘special investigation.’ Plus a new cartoon by Chris Ware, additional visuals by Arthur Jones, and a very special appearance by Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer! The performance will last around two hours. We’re going to capture the whole thing with a bunch of HD cameras, and send it live* to movie theatres all over the country.
It’s gonna be a fun night. We hope you’ll come.
One night only. Thursday, April 23rd. In select movie theatres and performing arts centers nationwide.
*8 PM EDT / 7 PM CDT / 6 PM MDT and time delayed to 8PM PDT (also 8 PM in Arizona and 7 PM in Hawaii).”
Okay, it’s me, Dave, again. What are you waiting for? Buy tickets here or I will freaking lose it!
Look- there’s even a delightful poster for the show and everything. See? Sometimes life delivers on its promise.
Apr
Posted on 1st April 2009
It’s April Fools Day. I am at home with parents in Cleveland and I can’t think of any suitable pranks to pull on my parents. Unless, of course, the prank is that I am only their only child who has yet to marry or give them any grandparents. And my means of employment still remains at least a partial mystery to them. If any of that qualifies as a prank, then I have really gotten them this year.
Anyway, breaking my parents’ hearts aside, today always makes me think of a great song by the great Rufus Wainwright called- you guessed it- “April Fools.” It’s from his self-titled debut and I remember hearing it on the radio way back when and thinking “Hmm, this guy is onto something.” And then I bought the album and listened to it a million more times. The video is really good too and- for all you trivia buffs- was filmed largely in Gwen Stefani’s house as I understand it (though I could be wrong). And leave it to Rufus, a gay man, to surround himself with a bunch of totally hot chicks in his video. That bastard.
And as long as we’re on the topic, here is Rufus doing a live acoustic version of “April Fools” with his sister and my good friend Lucy Wainwright Roche on harmony somewhere in the wilds of New Jersey. Wish I could have been there.
And finally, it’ s my friend Marc Meighan’s birthday today. Happy Birthday, Marc! If you see Marc, buy him a sandwich or something. He’s one of the greats.
Newer Entries »
