I’ve been woefully neglecting my blog for the past year or so and for that I apologize. Things at Neoteric have been as busy as ever which is in part why I’ve had so little time for personal musings. Also, we launched the new Urban Initiatives web site just last week. We’re still ironing out a few kinks but keep your eye on it.

Now to the more important news, namely the music that’s been on repeat lately. While I’d like to say that the music of 2009 has been exceptional, I can’t. Actually, it’s been spotty. Have we lost focus now that Obama’s our president? A cheap shot but all the same…

Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid

I was slow on discovering this one. I’ve always respected the Black Keys (Auerbach is a member) but I must admit I’ve never loved them nor felt the urge to catch them perform. This album softens the grunge from the Black Keys sound and varies things up as well. My favorite track would have to be “Whispered Words (Pretty Lies)”. The punchy guitar riff and Auerbach’s gruff voice makes for a catchy song that seems to still contain that rough, authentic Keys sound… as though it could have been cut 40 years ago. If you’re in the Chicago area he’s coming to the Vic in December.

Dawes – North Hills

Okay, the lyrics aren’t the most poignant to come down the line (see: “Only thing that’s scarier than dying is not dying at all”) but then again what can you expect from a group of guys from Malibu, CA. If I were to cite influences the first that come to mind would be The Jayhawks or maybe Jason Collett although that might be a stretch. All the same, if you’re into the alt country sound and solid harmonies, this is definitely worth picking up. Oh, and you get this album from Amie Street, a great online music store, for $2.20.

Modest Mouse – No One’s Next and You’re First

Modest Mouse has always been hit or miss for me and this collection of EPs and singles certainly continues that streak. I absolutely love “Autumn Beds” — which I’m certain is the track playing on the radio waves as I write — as well as “Guilty Cocker Spaniels” which took a few listens before I came around.  Alas, this also has some headache-inducing tracks like “The Whale Song” which should have been left in the can (no pun intended).

Royal City – Royal City

I have to admit I’ve not done my homework on these guys. I remember getting the their 2006 album Little Heart’s Ease passed my way and enjoying it but this one was just recently released on Rough Trade. From what I gather this band has unfortunately disbanded, which might explain why I’ve never seen them on any venue calendars around Chicago. The tracks to check out are “In The Autumn” and “The Nations Will Sing”.

Headlights – Some Racing, Some Stopping

Discovered Headlights on Daytrotter which, if you haven’t hit up yet, I highly recommend for no other reason than to get a bunch of free Headlights cuts (they played two sets for Daytrotter, both of which are just as great as this album). Headlights are coming to the Empty Bottle in October and tickets are only $5. Yes, that’s right — $5… you can’t get a drink at a bar for that price. I’ve already picked up tickets only to realize that that happens to be the same weekend as the Wisco v. Iowa football game at Camp Randall. Oh well, at least they were cheap.

Urban Initiatives had their sixth annual Halloween Bash at OHM in Bucktown. The total turnout  was 650 people. Peter came in from Minneapolis to spin and a whole slew of people made an appearance. It seems that each year the number in attendance doubles.

Brother Dan and me.

Colin as a bathroom wall early on in the night.

Didactic Diddy as Uncle Sam.

Leigh ruined my Halloween by denying me the opportunity to go as the slutty pirate. Next year I’ll wear my pajamas like she did this year.

Bennie and Liz. Ben’s costume is quite a step up from last year’s failure.

Dan and Alexis with the annual penguin costume worn by Davis this year.

Lara Croft

Peter not quite looking like Clark Kent.

Pissed that they stopped serving the free stuff at 11:45pm.

prime.

Why I never use toilet paper with any costume.

I went on a field trip with the Urban Initiatives kids to the L.E.A.R.N. charter school in Lawndale, where they played soccer with the kids from that UI program. We all had a blast. The highlight of the day had to be when Andre pointed at my arm and asked: ‘Is that all the muscle you got?’

Moshanay in goal.

Clockwise from the bottom: Kortese, D’Ellis, Jaylen, Andre, Terrance and Isaiah.

Jasmina

I got the chance to catch up with Esley and the Schiller kids for the first time in long a while. Soccer started up again this week and needless to say, the kids are amped.

Urban Initiatives had their big benefit on Friday and I think everyone would agree that it was both a resounding success and a ton of fun. The total attendance was over 500 people which was a staggering number compared to the original estimates. My parents made it in for the event and even “The Dows” himself was in attendance (although I must admit I found him hanging out by the coat check around 9:30pm).

The night itself was quite eventful… from Curl-the-Head’s screaming at P Diddy in the middle of the party that he [Diddy] would suck Rex Grossman’s dick, to the U.P.’s bidding war, to PS getting punched in the face at the after-bar for knocking on some guy wearing a first graders t-shirt – suffice it to say – it was night to remember. Can’t wait for next year.

With the parents at the party

Curl-the-Head goes off on Diddy about how bad the Bears are… notice Diddy rocked a Hester jersey to the benefit.

Curl-the-Head, CJ and Danny at the after-bar.

Went to the Cabrini school today to shoot some photos of the kids for a project I’m working on and when I arrived Coach D mentioned that one of the kids – Terrance – was in “big trouble” and probably wouldn’t be participating in the project. He had managed to get into five fights today and even ripped his progress chart down off the wall. I’ve always enjoyed hanging out with “Little T” (as he’s affectionately nicknamed) and stressed to Coach D that we should talk to him.

Coach D and I found him being held after class by his teacher and we pulled him out into the hallway and had a heart to heart with him. I’m not sure if much of it registered (I know that when I was his age a lot of adult advice went in one ear and out the other) but I asked him if he’d be willing to let me take some photos for my project and he nodded, keeping his eyes pointed at the floor. As you can see from the first photo Terrance had had a rough day, but I joked with him and told him to forget about school and it seemed to work because towards the end he was all smiles.

Afterwards, he asked if I would walk him and his younger sister to his cousin’s funeral a few blocks away and I obliged. Sad that someone his age has to go to a cousin’s funeral all by himself.