Tom Waits Live

NPR is offering a download of Tom Waits' July 5th show from Atlanta's Fox Theater. It'd be nice if the MP3 was a higher bitrate, but I won't complain. Get it here.

Set List:

"Lucinda / Ain't Going Down to the Well"
"Down in the Hole"
"Falling Down"
"Chocolate Jesus"
"All the World Is Green"
"Cemetery Polka"
"Cause of It All"
"Till the Money Runs Out"
"Such a Scream"
"November"
"Hold On"
"Black Market Baby"
"9th and Hennepin"
"Lie to Me"
"Lucky Day"
"On the Nickel"
"Lost in the Harbor"
"Innocent When You Dream"
"Hoist That Rag"
"Make It Rain"
"Dirt in the Ground"
"Get Behind the Mule"
"Hang Down Your Head"
"Jesus Gonna Be Here"
"Singapore"
"Eyeball Kid"
"Anywhere I Lay My Head"

Stupid Shoes

I'm not the only one who thinks modern running shoes are hideous.

I'm especially happy that my all time favourite shoe was offered as an example of good minimal design - the Adidas Stan Smith.

Munetsugu Hall

Munetsugu Hall in Nagoya, Japan is a relatively small concert hall designed by Norihiko Dan - and it's beautiful. I'd love to see a performance there.

Ghostography

A nice little Flickr set of Nine Inch Nails' "Ghosts I-IV" CD packaging. I like how the photos mirror the minimalism of the package design.

Age

Here's an interesting Design Observer article on the opposing desires for "new and improved" and the implied quality of antiques and retro design. Interestingly, when it comes to residential development, the dominant use of "old" architecture and suburban naming conventions (Quail Run, Fox Landing) is a mostly North American thing.

The Buffalo Scene

Surprised to stumble upon "This Is It" - a compilation of historic 1977-1984 punk, new wave, power pop, and alternative bands from Buffalo, NY.

My memory's a bit hazy, but I'm pretty sure I saw The Jumpers and Pauline and the Perils (both featured on the disc) at some outdoor gig, possibly the great Records on Wheels street festival on Queen St. in Niagara Falls (1979?) headlined by Teenage Head.

Remember Duane Allman

In 1973, four guys carved a 100 foot long tribute to the late Duane Allman into the rock along Interstate 20 near Vicksburg, Mississippi. It remained visible for a decade. The fans responsible finally spoke publicly about their work last year.

Pixar

A girl cried while watching the trailer for Pixar's "Wall-E" online. What happened after that is pretty cool.