wuchess.com

If you have ever wanted to challenge the RZA or GZA to chess, now you can.  Thanks to the new site wuchess.com, not only can fans play chess with members and one another, but they can socialize.  It’s like a wu tang myspace! what could be better?  And if your still interested in finding out just extactly what the “mystery of chessboxin’” is, I’m sure you could find that answer here, but not for a small price, the site costs $48 a year! what a ripoff.

“WuChess.com is the worlds first online chess and Hip-Hop community. You can create and share profiles with your friends and triumph over enemies on the 64 squares. Not just against people in your neighborhood but from all over the world. “

Of course its the first “online chess AND hip-hop community,” I mean look at that matchup. ROFL 

www.wuchess.com

turns out I saw Ryan Adams in LA . . .

Adams with hot new ladyfriend Mandy Moore

 

Upon my arrival to Los Angeles a few weeks ago to visit my friend who lives there, we drove by a coffee shop.  Sitting outside at one of the tables there appeared to be a bleached blonde Ryan Adams.  I looked at my friend who also agreed that the guy looked like Ryan Adams with blonde hair.  We continued on, shrugging it off.  Last night, as I flipped through rolling stone’s “random notes,” a collection of photos, I saw the same Ryan Adams I had seen in LA.  Turns out his hair is now blonde.  I had always said that Ryan Adams is the type of person I could never recognize because he goes through so many different looks, but I guess I misjudged myself.  Considering the pace at which he works, I am in awe of the fact that the guy ever leaves his studio or home. (see dradamsfilms.com or his 10+ unreleased albums).Too bad I didn’t trust my own instincts and go say hi to the guy. 

Regina Spektor Celebrates Israel: The National Mall; June 1st, 2008

I have to admit, although I am jewish, pretty much the only reason why I wanted to go to the Israel @ 60 celebration on the national mall was to see Regina Spektor perform.  I am not a huge fan of her music, but recognize her talent and ocassionally listen to some of her songs. 

This festival/gathering/party was the ultimate jewfest.  There were dozens of tents spewing out unnecessary ammounts of israel history and information, none of which I ventured into.  One of the highlights was definitely Mandy Patinkin’s communal recitation of his famous line from “The Princess Bride” before he introduced Regina to the stage. 

If there’s anything to say about Regina Spektor is that she has a very ‘cute’ stage prescence.  She appears so modest, bashful, and cheerful, that it almost seems that it is her first time performing in front of a live audience, let alone thousands.  Considering the style of music she plays, it isn’t too exciting, but she nails every note in every song she sings.  She certainly is a very unique musician, sometimes even playing piano and using a chair as a drum simultaneously, while singing her melodies with her soothing and calm voice. 

The crowd did not seem to be too into the whole concert thing, considering the actual reason most came was just to, you know, celebrate that country in the middle-east.  While trying to actually pay attention to the performance, I overheard dozens of typical old jewish women asking questions such as, “Have you ever heard of this person?” which in turn recieved responses such as, “No, but the kids seem to know about her.”  Anyways, she played a few of my favorites “fidelity” and “Samson” and it was a very easy going performance.  She did, however, forget a verse to one of her songs and actually asked for an audience member in the front, who had been singing along to every song, how the song went.  It was a fun experience.

 

in preparation for bonnaroo . . .

Yes, just 8 days away, Bonnaroo 2008 in Manchester Tennessee is approaching very quickly. I have assembled the The top 10 important things to help you at, on the way to, or before Bonnaroo:

10. Do not forget something in the tent when packing it up. Chances are, you will forget about it and won’t see it again until the next bonnaroo.

9. Don’t forget your hippie mace. They can get a little close, so it’s always a good idea to bring an extra bottle for protection.

8. Don’t take a ‘nap’ in between shows. You WILL sleep through the show you are planning to see. I missed DJ shadow last year because of it, and my friend slept through tool.

7. Don’t forget to pick a scene and stick with it. With all the hipsters, hippies, and other different types of concert goers at bonnaroo, you will want to make sure you don’t get placed in the miscellaneous category.

6. Bring a WATER BOTTLE. I recommend a camelback, easy to carry and holds a lot of watah.

5. Don’t spend all of your time at shakedown street. For many, this can be the most attractive part of the bonnaroo experience, but I can assure you, what lies beyond the gates to the ACTUAL FESTIVAL is what you want to see.

4. Leave early, waiting in a line of cars for 10 hrs is no picnic.

3. Don’t be bogged down by non-music fans. If one of your friends wants to go and isn’t into music, convince him/her that they don’t actually want to go. By the end of the first night they’ll be sick of it and want to go home anyways.

2.Don’t bring too much of your own food. The amount of time spent at the campsite is not even close to enough to eat it all.

1. Remember your ticket. Yes, one of my friends forgot his.