The Real Pat Blair » Videos

Lighting a Torch

Pat — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:17:06 +0000

Thanks to all who came out for Cinco de Moustache IV – it was a great success, and a great farewell to Saint Radar. Let me just say that, when the time comes for the Strangers, I want our last show to be exactly like Radar’s, just with less swearing.
If you missed the show, shame on you. Here’s some video.

Strangers Update

Pat — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:43:46 +0000

So, for a (prompt) follow-up to my last posts: The Lone Strangers took 1st place in the Veishea Wildcard Round (second year in a row) and 2nd place in the overall Battle (up one step from 3rd last year), and played the best outdoors-in-the-snow set that we have ever done. It was a lot of fun, and we’re always glad to get a chance to play.
Here’s a video of the show at the M-Shop… wait through the first 2 bands to see a full performance of Let You Go.

Finally, Cinco de Moustache IV: Quatro, Cinco, ‘Stache. Details below. It is Saint Radar’s last show, so don’t miss out.

Dead Week Tunes

Pat — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:46:23 +0000

It’s Dead Week here in Ames. At some schools, that means that nothing happens and the students are free to veg, study, and prepare for finals. At ISU, it means that you work so hard that you wish you were dead. A few years ago, GSB passed legislation to get professors to cut the nonsense: paper and test during dead week, final a week later, etc. Of course, there is no enforcement mechanism, so after a year of playing nice, my understanding is that it’s back to business as usual.
So to help everyone deal with the stress, or maybe just to help you enjoy spring-time, I’ve compiled a list of music that’s worth checking out. Most, if not all, comes via stereogum.com, a site which most, if not all, of my readers will find uninteresting, if not unreadable. But, credit where due.

Party Ben – Every Car You Chase (The Police vs Snow Patrol)

This is amazing. I really dig it. I have listened to it WAAAAY too many times already. You can download the mp3 from stereogum or from Party Ben’s site.
The Bad Plus – Tom Sawyer
A jazz trio – piano, drums, bass – covers Rush’s “Tom Sawyer”. Flawlessly. No video for this, but do yourself a favor and download the mp3 from stereogum
Additionally, the cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” isn’t too shabby either. The Bad Plus’ covers are OK, right up until the free-form jazz jams, at which point they become amazing.
Chris Cornell – Billie Jean

Former Soundgarden and Audioslave singer Chris Cornell takes Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and turns it into a 6/8 blues scorcher. Not bad, but I personally think that the Lone Strangers dance version is far superior.

Enjoy!

Beck

Pat — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:45:06 +0000

So, honestly, who thought, after hearing “Loser” when it came out 13(!!!) years ago, that Beck would develop into a mature, credible, and consistently good songwriter and musician? Not me.
Guess I was wrong.

(Note: the video is homemade, and was filmed in the studio while they were recording the album. It is weird, and I’m not a huge fan. The song, however…)

If You Ever Wondered…

Pat — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:28:54 +0000

If you’ve ever wondered what a Lone Strangers practice looked like when we were trying to learn a new song, you can watch this video and get a rough idea.

No wonder Scott loves me so much.

Be Careful, Little Eyes

Pat — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:01:48 +0000

So, Valentine’s Day is coming up – it’s only a week away! I know there are mixed feelings about this alleged holiday. Sure, it very well may have been invented by greeting card companies, jewelers, candy store owners, and girlfriends. And yes, it the holiday is named after someone who was apparently killed because of their beliefs. Nonetheless, I personally think that St. Valentines day is a great holiday.

For me to poop on.

That said, remember my post about why Hollywood keeps making crappy movies? (Hint: it’s because you pay to go see them). Well, keeping that in mind, I should point out that there is a great new film called on the way called Music and Lyrics, starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. It was written and directed by Marc Lawrence (Forces of Nature, Two Weeks Notice, Miss Congeniality 1 AND 2), and will be appearing 2/14 at a theater near you. How nice! A romantic comedy just in time for Valentine’s Day!
If any of you go to see this movie, I will buy a bow and arrow and go all cupid on your posterior.
Consider yourself warned.

Super Bowl Ad

Pat — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 17:40:44 +0000

So, favorite Super Bowl advertisements? As the 4th quarter was winding down and the “cheap” commercials were going on, I commented, and Matt agreed, that the ads had been a little weak this year. Some funny, sure, only a few stupid ones, but nothing that seemed really laugh-out-loud memorable. What I did notice was that there were a lot of OLD ads run, which seems sort of weak. The Grand-Theft-Auto Coca-Cola ad was hysterical – when I saw it before a movie at the dollar theater a month ago. Go Daddy has become so predictable that I perfectly timed when to “accidentally” stand in front of the projector the first time they showed their ad – if everyone can see it coming a mile away, I think the shock-value thing has stopped working. And, memo to execs, enough with the anthropomorphism, already! Seriously.
A few ads that I did love – GMC Robot. I had moved upstairs to the introvert room when this came on, so everyone was kind of aw-ing at the plight of the poor guy, and there was palpable horror in the room when he jumped, which made my laughing seem even more completely inappropriate. I think I have a problem.
I was also upstairs with the introverts for the Connectile Dysfunction ad. Again, a mostly silent/horrified room, except for Pat laying on the floor laughing in front of the TV. I think the commercial was actually a very tastefully done satire, and there was nothing at that was inappropriate. Then the guys downstairs started listing possible side-effects.
Most random and flat-out silly? One word – Goulet! This is the kind of ad that my mom would watch and go, “huh?” But everyone at the party thought it was brilliant. Regardless of the fact that no one can probably tell me what was being advertised, I give mad props to Emerald Nuts for making a commercial that was, well, nuts.
Finally, my early winner for best commercial: the Snickers Kiss. I saw where the ad was going as soon as the wrapper came off of the candy bar, so I was already laughing when the Lady and the Tramp action started. I did NOT, however, actually think that the guys would kiss. I had to make up a new word to describe it: defrightful! I suspect that this will get complaints from the activist gay community (homophobic!) and the activist religious community (men kissing on TV!), which makes it even funnier to me. All that I know is that I heard the phrase, “Quick! Do something manly!” about 5 times last night, and I don’t think it’s going to stop any time soon.
So… what do you think?

Ad Nauseum

Pat — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:46:24 +0000

This has started making the rounds on the internet, so I’ll throw it up before you get to see it everywhere else. It’s an advertisement for a Flea Market that, believe it or not, is JUST LIKE a mini-mall.

Only in America.