Keeping Up With Ryan Adams

"I won't say Adams is the best North-American Singer-Songwriter since Neil Young...but I won't say he isn't, either." - Stephen King

It is widely known that Ryan Adams is one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of the past 15 years. To those unfamiliar with his work, no, he did not sing "Summer of '69," that's Canadian douche Bryan Adams. Videos from his blog/alter ego, D.R. Adams Films Inc., have been orbiting the blogosphere for weeks (ever since he name dropped Wilco in a mock music video). I find it so rare and so humbling that a person of his stature keeps a truly public (albeit enigmatic) blog. Here are a few of my favorite off-beat clips from his excursions on the web so far.

"ROLL CREDITS" from Ryan Adams on Vimeo.



"THURSDAY NIGHT" from Ryan Adams on Vimeo.



Writing the Hits with Stupid from Ryan Adams on Vimeo.

WE ARE...Galvanized

Well, we were wrong on the date and location prediction, but we broke the news before any of our fellow campus bloggers. By now you already know that the man spoke to an estimated 22,000 on the lawn of Old Main this afternoon. As Spanier watched from behind with a nauseatingly smug grin, (careful never to applaud nor react to the Senator's speech), flack-jacketed special forces with high powered binoculars scanned the multi-racial sea of students and Central Pennsylvanians. A sniper stood perched at the top of the Old Main bell tower.

We walked through auxiliary metal detectors on the lawn's south slope after passing through a security checkpoint of Nittany Lion Football players. Several hundred volunteers lined the walkways and perimeters, creating a smiling human barricade to supplement the wood and wire fences. The whole operation was so carefully calculated, so professional, so, for lack of a better word, BIG. All of this for a candidate...still waiting to receive his nomination...still eight months away from election.



The magnitude of this day will stay with me for a long time. How is he able to "turn off" and sleep at night? How does he speak for several hours a day, seven days a week? How does he keep his health after shaking thousands of hands, traveling, sleeping in hotels? (The Penn Stater to be exact) How does his ego not explode?

And, that horrible question, what happens if he loses?

(That's me in the red hat! - stolen from BarackObama.com)

***All other images c/o Centre Daily Times, except the Sniper shot, c/o Catherine Seraphin***

UPDATE (4/1): Collegian Video Montage of the Speech

Vote Gav For Prez

It's a no brainer - aside from the fact that Gavin Keirans and Valarie Russell are the only qualified candidates in 2008 UPUA Election, they are also the only ticket with a specific platform. I've known Gav since my Freshman year of high school at St. Joseph's Prep, and can fully attest to his dedication for getting sh*t done. Additionally, Gav and Valarie have received endorsements from three of the most powerful, opinionated, and "no-mercy" groups on campus. Take a look...

The Daily Collegain Board of Editors:

Keirans, Russell offer clear vision

Among this year's slate of UPUA candidates, only Gavin Keirans and his running mate, Valarie Russell, can credibly make the case that they will break free of the mold and deliver real change for students.

Keirans and Russell are the only candidates that have achievable, concrete goals rather than half-baked ideas.

With their experience and in-depth knowledge of UPUA, Keirans and Russell are the only candidates prepared to start working Thursday morning, without spending two months learning parliamentary procedure.

And among this year's selection of presidential tickets, Keirans and Russell are the only candidates who have ever attended a UPUA general assembly meeting.

In a platform that's three times longer than the most verbose of their opponents', Keirans and Russell spell out a series of attainable goals -- regular meetings with Student Affairs representatives, creating a student-landlord dispute resolution center and implementing a medical amnesty policy, among others.

They do share some initiatives with their opponents, like expanding CATA's late-night route. However, where the others only offer vague aspirations, Keirans and Russell propose a well-researched plan -- asking the University Park Allocations Committee to fund a test trial of late-night routes.

Keirans and Russell bring proven dedication to the table. After Keirans lost in last year's elections, he continued to advocate for students as executive director of grassroots organization Safeguard Old State. He already has a working relationship with interim Vice President for Student Affairs Gail Hurley. Russell has experience in both UPUA and the University Faculty Senate.

Tom Shakely, VP of The Lion 90.7FM and Founder of Safeguard Old State (SOS):

I've worked with Gavin and Valarie closely in Safeguard Old State and UPUA and I can attest to their deep wealth of experience, solid grasp of the issues facing (and more often plaguing) our University, and I know that they will help usher in a new era for Penn Staters -- students and alums alike -- if you can spare a minute of your time in voting for them TODAY (anytime between 6am and 10pm).

In the words of Smalls, "Don't be a doofus!" Vote Now.

Tuesday Time Machine

Obama to Hillary: Keg Stands for Delegates

Reliable sources tell us that our main man, our non-sexual man crush, Barack Insane-in-the-Hussein Obama, will indeed visit dear old Happy Valley before the April 22nd Pennsylvania Primary. While a certified date and venue are still up for speculation, I think it's safe to say that we can expect B-Dog some time before Blue and White Weekend at the BJC. If not, Obama's campaign officials have confirmed that he will appear at SAMstock on Sunday, April 20th to sign Proposition 4-20.

Nate and I seriously, whole-heartedly, and 100% endorse Senator Obama for President. Nevertheless, here are a few shots from his recent stops on the trail...

"I may throw like a girl, but I have a sick jump shot."


"One bear claw for Hill-dog, please."


"Look, Sasha! George finally ran out of fossil fuel!"

Jam on the River Line-up Announced; Chin Scratches Ensue

Jam festivals have skyrocketed in popularity these last few years. Short answer: blame it on Bonnaroo. What started in the early 2000s as a respectable southern festival for emerging jam/folk artists quickly became the "it" festival for all things un-jam. Following the success of other large-scale fests like Lollapalooza and Vegoose, it seems that promoters from all markets, both major and minor, are cashing in on this "thing," this festival experience, that jam fans have relentlessly supported for more than 20 years (More to come on this later...)

Philadelphia's Jam on the River was always sort of the exception. No camping, no out-of-towners, and almost all of the bands stuck to the realms of jam/folk/reggae/world music. At the heart of JOTR was a commitment to showcasing upcoming locals: Ween, Townhall, The Brakes, Dr. Dog, etc. It has been anchored by The Disco Biscuits for the past several years, who, all opinions aside, have a shred of local credibility from their origins on the Penn frat scene. Each year they evolved a little further from a direction-less college band who struck rare moments of glory into one of the country's leading jam bands in the post-Phish era. And aside from giving us even more of a reason to scoff at flat-brimmed quasi-jam skateboarders from Conestoga, Bisco opened the festival's doors to credible electro bands like Lotus and STS9.

This year, however, the line-up fails to evoke the indescribable down-home Philly feeling, the block party feeling, the "this is our festival" feeling. Nevertheless, I am floored to have the chance to see The Lips on such a small stage. And its about time RJD2 got his moment in the sun.

The Brakes @ Jam on the River 2007, Day 2

As reported by Jambase.com:

JAM ON THE RIVER
Memorial Day Weekend 2008 Great Plaza at Penn's Landing
Friday, May 23 - Sunday, May 25
Weekends Worth of Shows at Great Plaza, Electric Factory & Fillmore at the TLA

The Weekend Lineup:

Friday @ Midnight / TLA
The New Deal | Jam On The River Kick-Off Party!

Saturday @ 1pm / Great Plaza
The Flaming Lips, RJD2, Josh Ritter and Bassnectar | Day 1

Saturday @ 11pm / Electric Factory
Disco Biscuits | Late-Night Show (18+ show)

Sunday @ 1pm / Great Plaza
Disco Biscuits, Deadmau5, The Avett Brothers, Lotus and American Babies | Day 2

Sunday @ 11pm / TLA
Conspirator & RJD2 | Late-Night Show

Sunday @ 11pm / Electric Factory
Dark Star Orchestra | Late-Night Show

Spring Break, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Tourists

Lauderdale By the Sea

There are no balconies in Hotel del Mar,
merely rooms with sliding glass doors
that open to a barred railing where a porch should be.

Under my perch, German Shepherds and French-Canadian
factory workers line the trapezoid-shaped pool.
For 15 greenbacks they can snag 5 Coronas –
in cans –
and a clear plastic cup with a dried lime wedge
asleep in the sandy circle bottom.

A stretch-marked 40-something is inhaling
a thick romance novel with dark print
on sandy beach pages. She picked it up
for $12.95 at the airport B. Dalton,
it’s receipt still nestled in her assistant Coach
pleather pouch.

Teetering on the edge of the deep end,
the kraut children do not don felt mouse ears,
No. That park was too expensive.
Instead they clutch miniature whales –
Shamoo or Free Willy’s brother-in-law,
I’m still not sure.

Opposite the revolving hot dogs,
an invisible DJ spins classic rock deep cuts.
Box of Rain. Please Please Me. Almost Cut My Hair.
He’s waiting for his shift to end so he can stand
behind keyboards at the outdoor bar across town –
the one that the Americans go to.

This job has its perks, though.
Imported cans and plastic mojitos are CPR
in the wake of a daylight savings sunburn.

Little Lars Locks his Legs into a cannonball.
“Say, dos’ you have Kraftwerk?” shouts Lars.
(Sigh).
Let me check.

Brandon's Spring Break

Keats and Yeats: Well I was texting this person...
Keats and Yeats: Wouldn't tell me who he/she was/
Keats and Yeats: So I figured it was you.
Keats and Yeats: I was like, John?
Keats and Yeats: And they were like "you got it!"
Keats and Yeats: So I continued texting this person for about two weeks, thinking that it was, for whatever reason, your number.
Keats and Yeats: And they continued texting me back just the same.
Keats and Yeats: And last night I texted them about today's poem.
Keats and Yeats: And they were like, how should I know?
Keats and Yeats: So I was like, get online, you piece of crap.
Keats and Yeats: Then he/she goes, "I don't have your screenname."
Keats and Yeats: And I said, look, is it okay for me to call, or do you usually not talk to people on the phone?
Keats and Yeats: They were like, don't call, I barely know you.
Keats and Yeats: Here I am thinking, all right, stutters on the phone, doesn't want to talk. Understandable. I ask a second time, IM me, please...
Keats and Yeats: This person says, I'll need your screenname.
Keats and Yeats: So it goes on for a while and I found out that they somehow picked up my number on the streets of Philly and decided to save it.
Keats and Yeats: Now, this person answered text messages about "kegs and eggs," spooning nightly, the Bible and politics over the course of a couple of weeks, never asking anything personal about me or telling me anything personal about themselves.
Keats and Yeats: I assumed it was you.
Keats and Yeats: That's the end of my story.
Keats and Yeats: See, I do this thing from time to time. I'll stare at someone all day, someone I don't know well. And then I'll motion for them to come over.
Keats and Yeats: And when they walk over I lean in really close and whisper, "do you like chocolate?"
Keats and Yeats: Listen to their answer, then walk away.
Keats and Yeats: I always thought, "what a great way to freak someone out!"
Keats and Yeats: This text thing, though, completely takes the cake. Whoever this is is bizarre to the max.

Meet Brandon, his brother Bryan, and some guy I don't know

Rommates

Original Date: September 20, 2006

I wasn't supposed to go to summer school. I was supposed to be down the shore with the rest of my graduating class. I was supposed to have one final directionless summer before I shipped off to the sea of higher learning and adulthood.

“I’m sorry, John. Your SATs are just too low.” This phrase echoed through my mind from about October of senior year through this very moment. Because of my inability to perform on less-than-objective standardized tests, I was forced to start college a few months early. Ok, maybe I’m being over-dramatic. Three guys from my class and a few girls I knew were doing it too, but none were what I’d call friends.

I said a less-than-easy goodbye to my parents and bunkered in with Dale Uminski from “outside Pittsburgh.” When I trudged back in from the farewell curb, Dale was straightening the edges of his WWE Divas poster. Out of 3,999 potential roommates, I landed the one who still watches wrestling. No, he didn’t watch. He kneeled at the altar of John Cena, among other fictional bravados.

“I got some hot sauce if you want some later,” said Dale. He hurled the 32oz tub on the top shelf and began a frantic search for his hammer and nails; items he was “sure mum had put in the stuff box.”

“So where you from anyway?” he asked.

“Philly,” I responded, not looking up from my MacBook.

“Awww Eagles fan eh? Yea whatchu know about a Super Bowl?”
NFL football meant nothing to me, as did most professional sports. Rather, I thrived off the energy and passion of collegiate athletics and was a fiend for March Madness.

“Not really,” I replied.

“Well good ‘cause they suck anyway. You got a girl?”

“Ehhh…” I replied. We had said an emotional goodbye two nights before. That was a wound I would’ve preferred not to open up. Much less dump his hot sauce into.

“How ‘bout you?” I asked.

“Yeaaa buddy. Goin’ on two years. She’ll be up to visit a lot, don’t you worry.”

Just what I needed, to be a fly on the wall of their redneck sex. I could see her now, all dolled up in cheap velour and K-Swiss running shoes.

“Got it!” he yelled, raising the lost hammer in triumph. He nailed five hunting hats to the wall. Maybe now’s not the best time to tell him I’m a vegan.

Three Places

Three Places I've Never Been (and want to go)


He can see us from his perch on the bell tower.
He’s looking down upon the quad where Owen Wilson
and Wes Anderson will one day walk,
perhaps on their way to Stubb’s Bar-B-Q.
They share a similar sentiment; a disdain
for the beliefs of highways and ranches outside
their sweet college town.



Meanwhile, a little north and a little west,
Silver Bullets are piercing through hemp store windows.
The owner ducks…then rises…and carries exactly one ounce –
such is the legal limit to evade handcuffs –
out back to have a smoke.






And later, in a thrift store alley
a wanderer is heating wet Rice-A-Roni
over a crackling fire barrel.
He’s waiting for Danny Tanner and Jerry Garcia
to stop by and swap recipes.