Election-Ween

On Nov. 1 we'll be hosting a post-Halloween, pre-election party, aka Election-Ween. Planned for the menu: Palin Punch (and possibly some variation on Baked Alaska), Biden Brownies, McCain Arizona Chips and Salsa and Obama Chicago Weenies.

I've already put together the iPod playlist. It's currently at 4 1/2 hours and includes Muse, the Smiths, They Might Be Giants, the Stranglers, Madonna, the Cure, Pat Benatar, Silversun Pickups, Justin Timberlake, the Bravery, the Killers, Stars, Metric, Blondie, Britney Spears, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Estelle, OMD, Gnarls Barkley, Howard Jones, Vampire Weekend, the Postal Service, Dwight Yoakam, New Order, ABBA, Erasure, Kenna, Editors, Depeche Mode, Katy Perry, Journey, Soft Cell, Foo Fighters, ABC and the Shins.

For starters.

Ra Ra Riot at the Black Cat

Fantastic show by Ra Ra Riot at the Black Cat last night. Wrapped up just before midnight, so really glad I had today off for the holiday (and doubly so because I spent part of another beautiful autumn day at the zoo with my girl).

Here are some photos of the show, courtesy of NPR's All Songs Considered -- fitting, since it was hearing "Ghost Under Rocks" on the podcast that led me to buy the album, and then attend the show.

Listen to All Songs' live podcast of the concert.

You kids, get off my lawn!

I'm turning into one of those people. One of those people heading toward middle age, stuck in the past, always going on and on about how "their" music was the best. One of those people who listen to the radio station that plays the songs and artists from 20 years ago, when they were formative adolescents.

These people are a little sad and pathetic, I used to think, before I became one of them. I mean, my parents belonged to this group, right?

I didn't realize it at first. I like to think I keep up with popular music, or the mainstream edge of the indie scene anyway. I won't claim to be a Pitchfork hipster. But I buy a lot of new stuff, and I see new bands in concert (case in point, upcoming shows: Adele, the Faint, Black Kids).

So what, I thought, if I loves me some '80s night dance parties? Who doesn't enjoy an occasional little wallow in nostalgia? It's only occasional, right?

It's Last.fm that gave me away. I'd go to play My Neighbourhood or My Recommendations and all these '80s artists would keep popping up. Come on now, that's not really that much of my music library. Is it?

OK, so I have the whole INXS back catalogue, but that was purchased in a bout of nostalgia after Michael Hutchence's untimely death. It doesn't mean anything. And everything by Depeche Mode. And a whole lot of the Cure, and the Smiths. But hey, they kick ass! How many bands today have been influenced by them?

Oh, yeah, I've got a lot of Erasure, too. And a-ha. And New Order. Uh oh.

Then I look at my Top Artists and Songs. Ouch. Yep, all those bands are in there. Sigh.

How did this happen? And how do I escape impending fogeydom?

Maybe I should hide this music from my iTunes playlist. Hide my secret shame.

And maybe I shouldn't have bought those 2 Marc Almond albums on Amazon tonight to get the digital versions of old cassettes I knew and loved.

Don't waste your time, or time will waste you

This video is all kinds of awesomeness. Never gets old.

Upcoming shows

Ooh! Adele at the 930 Club on 8.27 and the Faint 8.16. Ooh! Black Kids at the Black Cat 9.26.

Get me to the ticket counter ...

(And speaking of music, why does Last.fm think My Recommendations should consist almost entirely of '80s music when that is probably 20% or less of my entire 4,500+ song catalogue?)