New York Comic Con, Built to Spill & much more
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Well, hey there! First of all, I apologize for sending this a bit later than usual, but I've been tangled up in Tennessee reunions, New York Comic Con, work-ish deadlines and assorted shenanigans. I hope your week has been productive, joyful and low-stress, but something tells me it's too much to ask for all three!
Let's dive on in ...
First things first: I went to New York Comic Con on Thursday and saw the wonderful Paul Reubens, who is just as kind and fantastic and you'd expect him to be. It's been a few years since Paul and I chatted at San Diego Comic Con (when he took my breath away by showing up to our interview dressed as Pee-wee.) At NYCC I told him he should write a memoir (and hire me to help!). "I've already started," he teased.
On Tuesday I went to see Built to Spill play one of my all-time favorite albums, KEEP IT LIKE A SECRET. The band played four nights in New York and still has a handful of East Coast dates left. While frontman Doug Martsch was the only original member on stage, you can't deny the power of songs like "Time Trap," "Else," "You Were Right" ... I mean, I could just name every dang track on that record. It's absolutely perfect (from now on).
Other stuff I'm into:
TV: I binged Season 6 of YOUNGER last weekend. That show is like candy, and Liza's whole love triangle is kinda like a grownup Felicity-Noel-Ben situation. ... I also watched TRANSPARENT's "musicale finale," which was very, er, unexpected. ... And yes, next on my list is the Ken Burns country music doc, which I heard TONS about in Tennessee and can't wait to see. (My mother-in-law gave it a rave review, adding, "Twenty people he interviewed are now DEAD!")
MUSIC: I meant to mention this last week, but I was touched by this story about the Daniel Johnston memorial in Austin, particularly the part where musician Jad Fair "went into an extended noise jam on his electric guitar that ended with him snapping the neck off the instrument." May we all go out with such a tribute.
What you're into:
TV: A reader who identifies as "George Harrison Ford" is watching Season 6 of THE BLACKLIST on Netflix. ... Mike adores FLEABAG Season 2 so much that he's gonna watch it again (I feel the same way) and is currently watching the Ken Burns country music doc, as are several of you.
MUSIC: Norm in Ohio got his hands on the new Replacements box set. I don't have it yet, so I'd love to hear what you think (because I *know* there are quite a few 'Mats fans reading this) ...
MISCELLANY: A reader texted me about the Instagram account weirdsecondhandfinds, which is right up my alley. "The TMNT pic seems newsletter-worthy, among others like the lamp made from spare Barbie legs," they said. I want all of these things.
Shout-out to Carlo, "an Italian living in Amsterdam," who emailed a reminder about Inktober, which is underway. "I intend to take part every day -- attached is my first attempt!" he says. Great job, Carlo! (If you're participating, let us know and maybe send a pic, OK?)
Notable new releases:
TV: BIG MOUTH returns with new eps (Netflix, Oct. 4) ... HBO airs Gary Gulman's comedy special, THE GREAT DEPRESH (Oct. 5) ... BATWOMAN premieres with the rad Ruby Rose (CW, Oct. 6) ... The final season of MR. ROBOT premieres (USA, Oct. 6) ... THE WALKING DEAD returns (AMC, Oct. 6) ... NANCY DREW debuts on the CW (Oct. 9) ... RIVERDALE returns (CW, Oct. 9).
MOVIES: JOKER arrives ... Eddie Murphy stars in DOLEMITE IS MY NAME ... Natalie Portman helms LUCY IN THE SKY.
MUSIC: This week's releases include albums from Wilco, Angel Olsen and Blood Orange.
BIRTHDAYS:
Oct. 4: Anne Rice, Susan Sarandon, Jody Stephens, Alicia Silverstone
Oct. 5: Karen Allen, Bob Geldof, Maya Lin, Colin Meloy, Kate Winslet, Jesse Eisenberg
Oct. 6: Britt Ekland, Elisabeth Shue, Matthew Sweet, Tommy Stinson
Oct. 7: John Mellencamp, Dan Savage, Sherman Alexie, Thom Yorke
Oct. 8: Chevy Chase, R.L. Stine, Sigourney Weaver, Darrell Hammond, Jeremy Davies, Matt Damon (Harvey Pekar would've turned 80 today.)
Oct. 9: Tony Shalhoub, Guillermo del Toro, PJ Harvey (pictured), Steve McQueen, Sean Lennon
Oct. 10: Peter Coyote, John Prine, Tanya Tucker, Dan Stevens, (Director Ed Wood would've turned 95 today.)
Here I am at New York Comic Con with a very alluring promo for Mike Allred's upcoming David Bowie graphic novel, out in January 2020. Ooh, baby!
Please show your I.D. at the door,
Email me anytime at whitmath@gmail.com and leave me a text/voicemail at 929-515-1988. Also email for my mailing address or if you want to hire me as a writer/editor/speaker/old-time country lyricist. I know all the words that rhyme with "lonely."
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Like a midnight rambler,
Captain Caveman
"The first time I met Prince, he invited me to his birthday party in Minneapolis. It was a costume party, and I came as a beatnik -- a beret and a charcoal goatee. He was dressed like an executioner. I talked to him for awhile and he didn't know who I was, and when I told him, he was real surprised." - Paul Reubens
Don't forget to read my kids' book, WE MAKE COMICS, on getepic.com!