Really Usher?

Usher rips off Homer Simpson?  I've laughed at this about 100 times this morning.

Shame on Usher, or huge props?  I say props, assuming he did this and was only waiting for someone to get it.

The Nicest Compliment I've Ever Received

"I found this in Berlin... reminded me of you"

-Brad

Thanks Brad, yep they nailed it...right down to the socks and loafers.

Give Thanks Bitches!

We take thanking pretty seriously in my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tears for Fears Literal Video Spoof - Pretty Funny Shit

Saw Blane Fonda do a great version of Tears for Fears' Head Over Heels at Schubas this weekend.  It brought back memories of this Literal Video spoof from years ago.  Now I've got a mix of both versions stuck in my head.  Had to post it.

Enjoy! and check out more Literal Videos at http://www.dustfilms.com/literalvideos




Also, check out Blane Fonda too if you haven't already, very cool Chicago band http://www.myspace.com/blanefonda

Nacho Dip Mouth Orgasm in Bloomington

So I realized something this weekend.  Verona Red played it's first house party in a number of years... and I'm starting to think we should just do full on house party tours from this point forward.

• Reason number 1. the nacho dip we ate at Wendy's birthday party, I don't know what it was but it was cheesy/spicy and better than any nacho dip we've ever gotten at a venue or anywhere for that matter.  It was the dip to end all dips, if there were a dip Olympics they could probably just cancel them.
• Reason number 2. the breakfast we ate the next morning after Wendy's party, again never happens at venues.
• Reason number 3. Education. I learned the actual definition of the word savory...realized I've misused it for years, can't remember the last time I learned anything of value at a bar.
• Reason number 4. all the great people we met at Wendy's party, OK well we meet cool people at venues too but this still needs to be taken into consideration.
• Reason number 5 crowd participation, I would have never had the chance to hear someone in the crowd come up and sing a song about their favorite kind of sexy panties had this show been in a traditional setting.

So maybe its presumptuous to assume all house parties would have these things..I imagine others may fall short and an entire tour of house parties could be a let down...but it might be worth looking into.

Here's some pics

Playing

Dancing

Posing upside down

Eating the shit out of some amazing nacho dip

Listening to the greatest American rock and roll song ever penned on the topic of sexy panties

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WENDY!

 

Big thanks to Wendy, Clint, Kris, and Marissa!

Terrible Band Needed for Sham of a Wedding. 11/6. No pay

This is the greatest post for someone looking for a wedding band on craigslist I have ever seen. Props to Tony Focht for finding this and sending my way! Sounds like the wedding's tommorrow if anyone is interested.

Terrible band needed for sham of a wedding. 11/6. No pay
Date: 2010-10-14, 11:09AM

As the musician in our family, my Shylock of a half-brother and his parsimonious fiance have passed off to me the job of finding a band for their wedding. I love the kid, but his unique brand of expectant coercion and astonishingly consistent lack of judgment have left me with no recourse but to literally give him what he wants, a band that can "tear up Skynyrd, and won't cost nothin'". Since they think music is spontaneously generated via voodoo magic by assemblies of self-promoting philanthropists, I am now on a quest to find the best working band in Chicago interested in "doing it for the exposure".


If you are a serious musician that values your craft and earns a living from performance, you're probably thinking "Fuck you. Do you ask your accountant to do your taxes for the exposure?". You are not who I am looking for. Thanks for looking.

If however, you and your unemployable band of pothead hobbyists are enticed by the prospect of a free open bar stocked with the finest of suburban banquet hall well-liquor and an opportunity to run a train on the most whorish collection of self-entitled bridesmaids this side of a Sex In The City marathon, please contact me. There's probably dinner in it for you too, if the starched vagina of a "wedding planner" (bride's bff) can get her 3rd rung caterer to leave a few sandwiches in a storage closet for you at some point in the evening.


What I need from the band:
I don't care if you are an original Icelandic thrash-raga act featuring steam calliope and backwards Armageddon poetry, but I need you to be able to train wreck your way through a few requests.


Don't Stop Believing. You provide the high notes, we'll provide the smell of wine and cheap perfume.


Free Bird. Go nuts with the solo. Really. If this evening was a never-ending cascade of sonic punishment hailing down on Tom at blaringly inconsiderate volumes, it would only serve as apropos karmic revenge for the afternoons I've spent listening to Jillian chatter about OHMYGODIDON'TCAREWHAT.


Macarena/Electric Slide/Chicken Dance. It doesn't matter which one you play, but there has never been a classy party where one these songs has made an appearance. This will not be a classy party.


Do Not Play:
Jessie's Girl. I used to play weddings, and if I have to hear this song one more time, I'm going to fucking cut someone.


They said they don't have any preference's for attire, so I'll take that to mean you're ok in a threadbare Megadeth shirt and black jeans.


I will provide the PA (the band and sound system are my wedding present to them).
This is not a joke. Please shoot me an email if this sounds like something you might be interested in.

Hope that brightens up your Friday.  If you wrote this let me know where the wedding is please...I'd like to crash.

Gabe's (Iowa City, IA) - 10/15/2010

Gabe's = good times.

We rolled into Iowa City early enough to take a tour of the town where we saw plenty of running drunkards, upright pianos in the middle of the sidwalks, and spontaneous break dance parties... got some video and pics of this stuff but they didn't turn out so maybe next time.

The show was tons of fun. We shared the bill with Amanda Miller (http://www.myspace.com/khadijaandlexi) and Jake Dilley and the Color Pharmacy (http://www.myspace.com/jakedilley) both acts were peachy.

Got the chance to hang out with the guys from Jake Dilley and the Color Pharmacy after the show...cool dudes.

Also drank a few beers with Paul and Lindberg, the guys who book for Gabe. Was really a pleasure getting to hang out with these guys and talk music.

Huge thanks to both of them for the drinks and hospitality. Can't wait to get back to Iowa City soon.

Ordinance Protects Iowa City From Rock and Roll Explosion This Friday!

Verona Red rides into America's first "Nuclear Weapon Free City" this Friday Oct. 15 to perform at Gabe's in Iowa City (330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52242)

Could be tough to limit the rock and roll blastage to sub-nuclear levels...but we'll try.

Can't wait to be back at Gabe's!

Verona Red almost explodes...
This Friday October 15
At Gabe's (330 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52242)
Cover: $5

10pm - 10:40pm - Amanda Miller
11pm - 12:00pm - Jake Dilley and the Color Pharmacy
12:15pm - 1:15pm - Verona Red

Bear's Place (Bloomington, IN) - 10/8/2010

Well kinda hard to sum this one up...

The show was tons of fun...and the crowd and staff was awesome.  One "Hairy Bear" and a passed-around glass of moonshine later and things got a bit fuzzy...the blurriness of these pics really adds to the effect I'd say.

Hairy Bear and me making friends

Jamming at Kris Murphy's after the show

Mike doing.... well something

Once again though Bloomington proves to be a blast and showed us a lot of love.

Special thanks to...

• Our awesome waitress Kimmi, not only for bringing us drinks but also for joining us for some "No Way Home" tambourine-ing
• Marissa and Pam for bringing back that pizza and partying with us straight into Saturday morning
• And of course ...Kris Murphy for the hospitality and back rubs

See you soon Btown!

Rock and Roll McDonalds in Bloomington, IN Tomorrow Night

Almost 13 years ago the late/great Wesley Willis blessed the folks in Bloomington, IN with his premonitions of our country's battle with fast-food addiction.

Come eat some quarter-pounders in his honor with us tomorrow night at Bear's Place. (1316 E. 3rd St. Bloomington, IN).



Verona Red sucks a cheetah's smelly ass
at
Bear's Place (1316 E. 3rd St. Bloomington, IN)
Doors: 9:30
Cover: $5
21+

The 8's (http://www.myspace.com/the8smusic) 10-10:30
The Constants (http://www.myspace.com/theconstantsindy) 10:45-11:15
Verona Red (http://www.myspace.com/veronared) 11:30-12
Casket Sharp (http://www.myspace.com/casketsharp) 12-12:30

Paychecks Lounge (Hamtramck, MI) - 9/24/2010

A picture can say a million words. Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have from the entire night at Hamtramck.

Thank you to Brad's parents for letting us stay with them and for the 3 am dinner!

See you soon Detroit!

Dancing For Money This Friday In Detroit

We're headed to Detroit this Friday for good times at Paychecks Lounge. I like the name of this place...it tells you exactly how to spend your money. Something this kid will probably eventually learn...

Then again I'm not really sure what's going on with this family. If that's his sister then I think it's kinda weird...



Verona Red dances for money...
Paychecks Lounge 2932 Caniff St Hamtramck, MI 48212
Friday Sept. 24, 2010
Cover: $5
Doors: 9 PM

9:30 - Dead Set Ready (http://www.myspace.com/deadsetready)
10:30 - Verona Red (www.myspace.com/veronared)
11:30 - The Pounders (http://www.myspace.com/thepounderslive)

Mike & Molly's (Champaign, IL) - 9/11/2010

So Champaign was a blast.  Going back to college for a night results in many good stories...but let me get straight to the goods...

So the second we get to the venue to load in we start getting followed by this homeless guy.  He claims to have just gotten out of jail and then proceeds to follow us around for the next hour and a half.  While the rest of us are thinking about how we're probably going to get stabbed, our new friend and bassist Brad begins working out trumpet arrangements for his and the homeless guy's Motown debut.

This is probably the best version of the Temptations classic Papa Was A Rolling Stone that you'll ever hear.



Brad is a man of the people, eventually the homeless guy got the cops called on him, but not before he asked Brad for $0.35 to get out of the arrest....not sure.

After this it was time for some rock and roll.  Outdoor shows on a beautiful night...can't beat it.

The show was great, the after-party was even better.  We went to Joe's Brewery and drank with some 19 year olds...proud we could keep up.  After the bar closed we decided to hit up a house party at which point we got cited with a warning for drinking in public en route, a ticket we only avoided because the cop felt bad for us after finding out we were 26 and still drinking in public, he was 23 at the oldest...this was embarrassing yet awesome.

Then it was back to our friend Tim's place, we woke up the next morning on a mattress that we kind of remember finding on the street...this was embarrassing but comfortable... at least for now...we'll keep you posted on the bed bug situation.

This is how you "afford the rock and roll lifestyle" bitches!

Hipsters Back In Time

Hipsters can be really funny.  You have to admit, even if you have a little bit of it in you (I certainly do), being around an over-board hipster can be flat out annoying, or entertaining depending on how self-gratifying your own sense of humor is.

Here's some stuff I've seen online lately that has really made me laugh...something about taking hipsters back in time via coloring books and comic strips really does it for me.


Exhibit A: Hipster Dinosaur Coloring Book

I love the shirt on this one...

See all the colorings here. http://imgur.com/a/A379E/1

Exhibit B: Hipster Hitler Comic Strip

Full comic strip here http://hipsterhitler.com/2010/08/juice/

Props to Jon Vehlow for the Hipster Hitler.

Can't wait to show what kind of real hipsters we are to all the fine folks in Champaign tomorrow!

Verona Red Feels Up Champaign This Saturday!

Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend! I spent mine drinking happily to the efforts of laborers across the country.

Next weekend should be equally fun for us since we're headed to Champaign, IL for the first time to perform at Mike & Molly's (105 North Market Street) on Saturday 9/11.

I've been to U of I a few times before and had always had a blast. Folks out there know how to throw a party. Luckily we know a few kids out there, so we might get to avoid sleeping in the van...

By the looks of this video it seems U of I students already know how Verona Red sleeping arrangements work so I'm imagining it won't be too weird for them.



Verona Red feels up Champaign
Saturday, Sept. 11
Mike & Molly's (105 North Market Street)
$5

Line up:
9PM - TBD
10PM - Verona Red (www.myspace.com/veronared)
11PM - Arkansas Dogjaw (http://www.myspace.com/arkansasdogjaw)

Check out the Facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137024923009579&ref=ts

Child Prodigy, Boobs, and Art

Maybe everyone has already seen this...but I just did for the first time today. I was absolutely amazed at how this North Korean kindergartner has not only mastered the technique of her instrument but plays with such expression. Proof that "feeling music" or artistic expression might be instinctual at some level I guess.



Almost equally mind blowing is that this lady makes thousands of dollars on her paintings!



Just kidding, I'm really not one of those "most art is bad art" types, otherwise I'm sure I'd fall into that "bad artist" bucket, and self-loathing just doesn't sound that fun.

If a boob painting makes you feel something then hey why not...

Cubby Bear (Chicago, IL) - 8/20/2010

This past Friday's show at Cubby Bear with Greek Fire and Model Stranger was a pant wetting good time. A last minute show with such a great turnout makes me really appreciate the fact that Verona Red is blessed with the best fans in Chicago, maybe even the Midwest...no matter what you're definetly not third.

Here's some pics from the night.  HUGE PROPS to Michael Cooks from Afrothoughts.com for surprising us with these great images.  Mike Healy, glad your camera didn't break, thank you for the bonus images as well.

What a great night! This is the exact moment that I decided to applaud you all for being so damn awesome in anticipation for the blog I was going to write three days later.

  

Wish we could do this every night Chicago! But now it's back to writing :) Till next time...

So Maybe We Will Play Chicago One More Time This Summer...

You couldn't keep us away. We tried to just focus on writing, and doing the occasional road trip this summer, but alas you Chicago folk proved far too irresistible.

We're jumping on a bill last minute to perform with Greek Fire and our good friends Model Stranger next Friday, August 20 at the Cubby Bear Wrigleyville (1059 W Addison Street).

Bring your dancing shoes bitches!

09:30 - 10:10 Verona Red (http://www.myspace.com/veronared)
10:30 - 11:30 Greek Fire (http://www.myspace.com/greekfiremusic)
11:50 - 01:10 Model Stranger (http://www.myspace.com/modelstranger)

It's a $5 cover, but if you know you're going, email us before the show and we might be able to hook you up! (veronared@gmail.com)

Check out the Facebook event here!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139351606100131#!/event.php?eid=139351606100131&ref=ts

Who I Should Not Have Missed at Lollapolooza...

Saw tons of great bands at Lollapolooza this weekend (Spoon, Arcade Fire, Yeasayer,  Cut Copy, Grizzly Bear, Phoenix just to name a few) But everywhere I went I kept hearing about the one band I absolutely SHOULD HAVE seen...

Watched some vids on YouTube today and can say I very much regret missing Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.



Heard rumors they might be headlining the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival. Think I just mentally bought a ticket.

Here's another, there is something kind of magical about them.

A Beavis and Butthead Classic

Found this on a Facebook post by Kris Murphy, a good friend we get to see whenever we travel out Indianapolis way. It brought me back to junior high... man did I love this show. This clip was especially etched into my memory.



On another note. It's a great weekend to love music and live in Chicago is it not?

Check out the full lolla schedule here http://2010.lollapalooza.com/events/2010/08/06/ and get tickets if somehow you have not yet.

My Inner Toddler Calls It Quits

My inner toddler finally gave up on me today ever since he found out that apparently "scientists" have determined that the Triceratops was a not a real species of dinosaur.  Who was battling the T-Rex in all those movies?  I guess neither of us will ever know...anyway.  You can read it here...http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/02/triceratops-was-juvenile_n_667475.html, but the basic gist of it goes like this...

Scientists now say that triceratops is merely the juvenile form of torosaurus. As the animal aged, its horns changed shape and orientation and its frill became longer, thinner and less jagged. Finally it became fenestrated, producing the classic torosaurus form.

So just to recap: The triceratops...not a real dinosaur species.

Pluto is not a planet

And O.J. never killed anyone.

Damn you science...you did it again.

Seinfeld Action/Thriller Movie Trailer - AMAZING

So this shit is genius... This guy has rearranged various scenes from Seinfeld to make a movie trailer for an action thriller entitled "Serenity Now."

As a Seinfeld freak this has to be one of the best things I've seen on the interweb as of late.



Kudos to this guy for all the work that must have went into this (not sure how he avoided all the laugh/applause tracks)

Also, this really makes you realize how good they were at over-dramatized acting.

Here's another good one.



On another note, did you know Verona Red's name was originally going to be The Van Buren 8?

Lincoln Square Lounge (Decatur, IL) 7/9/2010

So I've decided there must be something in the water in Decatur IL, that brings out the kind of serious rock and roll mentality that it's residents possess.  This past Friday night at the Lincoln Square Lounge made me remember what makes rock and roll so special.

We waited for the dinner crowd to leave before we cleared tables and chairs out of the small restaurant dining room of the Lincoln Square Lounge, turning the pleasantly decorated eating space into a dimly lit and very intimate rock venue (the original venue that was supposed to host the show was shut down two days before, and the Lincoln Square Lounge was cool enough to let us take over their restaurant for the night on a last minute notice.)

The hospitality of the staff and the enthusiasm of the crowd to see a show in this kind of environment was really refreshing.

Local rock fans began piling into Lincoln Lounge around 9:30. The night started off with a great opening set by Jodyboss (http://www.facebook.com/JodybossMusic).  They had a great folksy sound that really set the mood and got feet tapping.

Verona Red was the ham in Friday night's rock and roll sandwich, playing second out of three.  We had a great time jumping off booths, wearing women's clothing, and just letting go a bit.


Ambient Green (www.myspace.com/ambientgreen) headlined the night, and played a fantastic set into the wee hours of Saturday morning.  This is the second time we played with them, and they put on another great show for the local Decaturites.

This was also the second time we got to go out partying with these guys after the show.  These fuckers are hilarious people and once again we had tons of fun with them and many of the other friends we made out at the first show in Decatur back June (Big shout out to Brandy, Jill, Tara, Curtis, Nicole and Lydia...you guys are awesome!)

Special thanks to Curtis and Lydia for showing us so much hospitality and letting us crash at their place.  You guys are the BALLS.

We can't wait to get back to Decatur soon!