And All That Noise And All That Sound

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted, so I guess I’ll just jump into it.

Coldplay fans really love Coldplay. I saw them last week, and I have never seen a crowd more enthused and more vocal than the bunch that packed into the Ford Center last Monday night. No kidding. I’ve seen the Rolling Stones, the Flaming Lips, Weezer, and a few other big names. The only crowd that came even close was the one waiting to see Guided By Voices at the Gypsy Tea Room (and that was an honest-to-God farewell tour). For instance, you know how bands will sometimes stop singing in the middle of a song so that the audience has to take over? Well, first off, I think that’s retarded, but whatever, I’m not the rock star. Secondly, and more to the point, it is usually kind of weak and tepid. Not with Coldplay fans. Sweet merciful crap were these kids loud. And relentless. It was amazing. Oh, and the band was pretty good, too. Fiona Apple, who opened the show, was a jittery clump of nervous energy and raw power. She didn’t play “Get Gone,” but that’s the only flaw I saw in her show. I hope she comes back.

Also, I’ve discovered that I’m the kind of person who reallyreallyreally likes UPN’s Veronica Mars. Really. Twin Peaks vs. Saved By The Bell vs. American Beauty. Great combo. I just finished the first season, and am looking forward to catching up on the second. Good work, Mr. Thomas. And Sleeper Cell is amazing as well. Twenty Four-style suspense remixed with The Shield-style pacing = good TV watching. Frickin’ iTunes is going to own me (coincidentally, Coldplay’s “Speed of Sound” was the One Billionth song downloaded from iTunes. One BILLIONTH. Wow.).

Something occurs to me as I write this. I’ve been watching a lot of TV lately, going out to shows, movies, etceteras, far more than normal. I’ve been doing as much as I can to keep my mind off of things. Lots of things. Does it distract me? Sure. Sometimes I desperately need some noise and diversion to keep my proverbial shit together... and sometimes all the sound and fury makes me self-destruct. It’s a fine line, but I’m moving (mostly) forward. I’ve turned in my thesis proposal, and I have assembled my committee (more like a dream team, but more on that later), and I will be turning in the final paperwork required for graduation this afternoon. That’s the first step in putting out one of the many fires burning around me of late. Thesis, job, car, home, friends, family, money, future... are all fuel for the ring of fire in which I find myself.

I can’t wait to see how I get out.

[burning down the house at biblebeltbabylon.blogspot.com, xanga.com/moontos and blog.myspace.com/moontos]