So despite being almost 8 years behind the rest of the world I finally gotten around to reading Running with Scissors Augusten Burroughs novelization of "Weird Al" Yankovic's hit 1999 of the same name. I really think Mr. Burroughs really missed the mark here. What was a delightfully entertaining and funny album full of songs about Star Wars, Computers and even a Polka was turned into a whiny story with lots of gay sex with underage folks. Truly confusing! If you asked me Augusten didn't even LISTEN to the album and just made shit up as he went along!
Okay... so I thought i could run with that joke better and longer. I was wrong. Thank you to my readers who chuckled a little bit while reading it, even if it was a nervous/awkward laugh slightly out of pity.
I did however finally get around to reading Augusten Burroughs "memior". In 2005 there was a lawsuit between Burroughs and the family that the family "The Finches" were based on. You can read about this lawsuit here. I have some problems with this lawsuit. The character in the book is named Natalie Finch, Theresa Turcotte sued Burrough and the publishers alleging defamation of character and invasion of privacy. The first thing that I think is that it'd be difficult for MOST people to make the connection between the two names. The only way you'd figure it out would be if you knew one of the parties involved, and if you did, you'd know if what was written was true or not. Theresa has put herself in the public eye. I didn't read this memior and really know/care who these people were based on. I really didn't buy most of the "Memior" regardless. It just seems so back-tracking to me. I've written countless scripts inspired by my friends, family and ex-es. While I don't advertise these as "memiors" or "Autobiographical" scripts, still it bothers me that despite name changes and taking some liberties with dialogue I could still get sued for defamation.
I'm not even a big fan of the memior/book. I read it quickly because i found it interesting, but it came off pretty cliche' despite being supposedly a true story. As far as memiors go I'd prefer David Eggers A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius released two years previous to Running With Scissors. Eggers has fun with "memior" style and constantly is acknowledging that the dialogue throughout is 75% how he "remembers it" and 25% how he wishes he would go. All in all we have to remember that all Memiors are based on people's memory strength. My memior would be terrible, I can't even remember real events from my life vs. dreams I had.
Sidenote: Please read my tribute to LFO Singer Rich Cronin who sadly died of Leukemia.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Shameful Life I Lead
I have a dirty little secret that I've been holding on to. I feel like a terrible person about this but I need to release this. Back in March I agreed to a "Mixtape Trade" for geekscape.net. However despite getting all the songs put together and burning the albums and even making 2 awesome "booklets" to accompany the mixes, I never sent them. I'm even more upset because both of these forum members haven't really posted on the site much since and I can't help but feel like I'm to blame. What makes it worse is that there literally isn't a single good reason for it. Basically I forgot to mail them, then every time I woke up I'd think "I'll mail them on Friday on my day off" and then forget until Sunday. Eventually it got to the point where two months had passed and it'd just seem ridiculous to mail them at this rate, but regardless both mixes sit on the table next to my computer staring me down.
It's insane the things I'll do to not look stupid. I could have been in advanced placement english in 12th grade (which is impressive because I have terrible grammar and spelling). The first 2 semesters I had A's in 11th Grade Honor's English. But the 3rd Semester I received a D in the class over a paper I never handed in. Why didn't I hand it in? Well I forgot about the paper at first, then I realized that I had NO CLUE what to write about and somewhere in my mind it was better to not hand in a paper and be thought of as "lazy" then hand in a bad paper and be thought of as "stupid".
What to do with these mixes, they're pretty awesome mixes. My art work/booklet I'm extra proud of. I was thinking about mailing them in March 2011 and try to claim that I got confused with when we were supposed to send them, but again... that makes me look really dumb.
Better to be thought lazy then dumb
amendment to the bucket list
16. Mail both mixes
It's insane the things I'll do to not look stupid. I could have been in advanced placement english in 12th grade (which is impressive because I have terrible grammar and spelling). The first 2 semesters I had A's in 11th Grade Honor's English. But the 3rd Semester I received a D in the class over a paper I never handed in. Why didn't I hand it in? Well I forgot about the paper at first, then I realized that I had NO CLUE what to write about and somewhere in my mind it was better to not hand in a paper and be thought of as "lazy" then hand in a bad paper and be thought of as "stupid".
What to do with these mixes, they're pretty awesome mixes. My art work/booklet I'm extra proud of. I was thinking about mailing them in March 2011 and try to claim that I got confused with when we were supposed to send them, but again... that makes me look really dumb.
Better to be thought lazy then dumb
amendment to the bucket list
16. Mail both mixes
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Bucket List of 2010
As of last night, I now have a place to live when I move to LA. I'm going to leave early January (2nd or 3rd) and will be moving into the house of one Brian Gilmore
Photographed Here
Now before I move into the Bog of Eternal Stench I have a few things I still want to do while here in PA just one last time. They are my bucket list!
1. Big Birthday Bash with Friends
2. Go to Medieval Times
3. Have Steak Night with Matt Voigt
4. Game Night with Den & Char
5. Risk Night with whoever wants to come
6. Get powerdownproductions.com looking like a website
7. Start pre-recording Celluloid Freaks
8. Get "Movies & The Munchies" started
9. Release "Musicians Celebrate Jim Henson"
10. Finish "Fluffy the Zombie Slayer"
11. Get People from my D&D group to play Munchkin for a Night
12. Have an all night horror movie marathon on Halloween Night
13. Throw one last concert with all my favorite local bands and myself playing (ideal line: We Are, Punchy's Pilots, He's the Hero, Team Goldie, Nitty Gritty, Soletta, Roots in Stereo and ME!)
14. Have a huge New Years Eve Party
15. Have sex with every female I've ever met on the east coast
I'm confident in the completion of all but one of these, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to steak night.
Now before I move into the Bog of Eternal Stench I have a few things I still want to do while here in PA just one last time. They are my bucket list!
1. Big Birthday Bash with Friends
2. Go to Medieval Times
3. Have Steak Night with Matt Voigt
4. Game Night with Den & Char
5. Risk Night with whoever wants to come
6. Get powerdownproductions.com looking like a website
7. Start pre-recording Celluloid Freaks
8. Get "Movies & The Munchies" started
9. Release "Musicians Celebrate Jim Henson"
10. Finish "Fluffy the Zombie Slayer"
11. Get People from my D&D group to play Munchkin for a Night
12. Have an all night horror movie marathon on Halloween Night
13. Throw one last concert with all my favorite local bands and myself playing (ideal line: We Are, Punchy's Pilots, He's the Hero, Team Goldie, Nitty Gritty, Soletta, Roots in Stereo and ME!)
14. Have a huge New Years Eve Party
15. Have sex with every female I've ever met on the east coast
I'm confident in the completion of all but one of these, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to steak night.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
I said Fuck You
Right now Cee Lo Green has a viral sensation on his hands. He also has arguably the best single of the year on his hands. The song I'm referring to is the incredibly catchy and fun song "Fuck You". If you haven't heard this song then you're in luck.
Why is this song so popular? It's not laugh out loud funny, but I think the answer is simple. Cee-Lo Green is cashing in on a fact that we ALL know but we don't realize we know. The "Motown" influence is obvious and Motown is hands down without a doubt the most loved style of music ever!
Think for a second, do you know anyone who HATES Motown? The answer is NO! because A) everyone likes motown music and B) If people DIDN'T like Motown, we'd assume they hate life and everyone would avoid them at all costs.
Motown was/is/will always be incredible because no matter how bad of a day you're having, you hear "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day" and you instantly smile. You can't help but tap your foot to "The Way you Do the Things you Do". Were they the best songwriters in the world? Not really? But Do we care? Not At ALL!
People from all ages jump up to sing along with "Build me Up Buttercup" if it comes on at a party. Cee-Lo Green's song is most likely going to be the same way. The only thing hurting it is the lyrics which will turn off most older people. I know for a fact that my mother would enjoy it but say "Well, that's not very nice" about the lyrics.
Actual Photograph of my Mom
Regardless of lyrical content this song is so vintage that it's amazing. I pray that this will never ever die. I hope it will live forever like other Motown classics.
I DJ Weddings, I've gotten random lists of songs to NOT play. Sometimes a couple will say "Don't play anything older than the 80's or older than the 90's" and I'll ask "Does that include Motown?" and they always say "Oh no, play motown, we LOVE motown". I swear if someone said "no, I hate Motown" (which would never happen as explained earlier people who dislike motown don't exist) I'd refuse to DJ their wedding assuming that they are actually demons from Hell.
So after you listen to that Cee-Lo song like 5 more times (don't act like you haven't listened to it more than once already) go pop on some Little Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Ruffin, The Four Tops or Jackson 5.
Why is this song so popular? It's not laugh out loud funny, but I think the answer is simple. Cee-Lo Green is cashing in on a fact that we ALL know but we don't realize we know. The "Motown" influence is obvious and Motown is hands down without a doubt the most loved style of music ever!
Think for a second, do you know anyone who HATES Motown? The answer is NO! because A) everyone likes motown music and B) If people DIDN'T like Motown, we'd assume they hate life and everyone would avoid them at all costs.
Motown was/is/will always be incredible because no matter how bad of a day you're having, you hear "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day" and you instantly smile. You can't help but tap your foot to "The Way you Do the Things you Do". Were they the best songwriters in the world? Not really? But Do we care? Not At ALL!
People from all ages jump up to sing along with "Build me Up Buttercup" if it comes on at a party. Cee-Lo Green's song is most likely going to be the same way. The only thing hurting it is the lyrics which will turn off most older people. I know for a fact that my mother would enjoy it but say "Well, that's not very nice" about the lyrics.
Regardless of lyrical content this song is so vintage that it's amazing. I pray that this will never ever die. I hope it will live forever like other Motown classics.
I DJ Weddings, I've gotten random lists of songs to NOT play. Sometimes a couple will say "Don't play anything older than the 80's or older than the 90's" and I'll ask "Does that include Motown?" and they always say "Oh no, play motown, we LOVE motown". I swear if someone said "no, I hate Motown" (which would never happen as explained earlier people who dislike motown don't exist) I'd refuse to DJ their wedding assuming that they are actually demons from Hell.
So after you listen to that Cee-Lo song like 5 more times (don't act like you haven't listened to it more than once already) go pop on some Little Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Ruffin, The Four Tops or Jackson 5.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Inside the Matt-ors Studio
So while I was in San Diego Comic Con, I acted in a short written by Jonathan London of Geekscape. I told you guys about it in my previous posts (see). I wanted to discuss my motivation in this role and to discuss the internet's reaction to this instant viral sensation. But first... please watch the video!
Alright well for this role I had to BECOME a man who was turned on by other men. I thought back to all of my opposite of heterosexual friends (be that bi or homo) to create my motivation. I had to truly want to still have sex with the metroid when that mask was back on. I spent multiple takes just standing at the table licking my lips. if you pay close attention to the closing credits you'll see I also did sound on this production. This involved me laying on the group at crotch level with the Metroid, to say this didn't help with my inspiration would be a lie. I saw the gloriousness that is Tim Jenning's greatest acting ascent that you all sadly only got to see in quick cuts.
Since this launched my phone has been ringing off the hook. People want to know more about this character, I've even heard talk about Jonathan writing me my own spin off when I move out there in January. I will say this, this is not the last you've seen of Matt Kelly. I'm already nominated for a Webbie Award as well as being praised by GLADD.
Okay Time to Get Real
I sincerely enjoy the video that I was in. I had a lot of fun being apart of it and hope to be in future episodes of NPCs. The only thing more fun than the making of that was reading the youtube comments. If you look multiple people are complaining that this video is "gay" and "sucks" because we have "The worst metroid costume they've ever seen!" first of all... NO
But Secondly, the whole point was to TRY to make the worst costume ever. That being said... the above picture says we failed.
Alright well for this role I had to BECOME a man who was turned on by other men. I thought back to all of my opposite of heterosexual friends (be that bi or homo) to create my motivation. I had to truly want to still have sex with the metroid when that mask was back on. I spent multiple takes just standing at the table licking my lips. if you pay close attention to the closing credits you'll see I also did sound on this production. This involved me laying on the group at crotch level with the Metroid, to say this didn't help with my inspiration would be a lie. I saw the gloriousness that is Tim Jenning's greatest acting ascent that you all sadly only got to see in quick cuts.
Since this launched my phone has been ringing off the hook. People want to know more about this character, I've even heard talk about Jonathan writing me my own spin off when I move out there in January. I will say this, this is not the last you've seen of Matt Kelly. I'm already nominated for a Webbie Award as well as being praised by GLADD.
Okay Time to Get Real
I sincerely enjoy the video that I was in. I had a lot of fun being apart of it and hope to be in future episodes of NPCs. The only thing more fun than the making of that was reading the youtube comments. If you look multiple people are complaining that this video is "gay" and "sucks" because we have "The worst metroid costume they've ever seen!" first of all... NO
But Secondly, the whole point was to TRY to make the worst costume ever. That being said... the above picture says we failed.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Saint Mort Comes to Youtube
I assume if you're reading my blog, you know that Saint Mort is the alias for my music/comedy side project. If you didn't know that get to my site asap! For over 7 years I've been performing songs but short of the few times people attended my shows no one has really gotten to hear my music... so I'm giving youtube a shoot! Once a month or so I'll be posting video links to different songs of mine (covers and originals) here's the first one.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A Monthly Mix - August 16th, 2010
So for the last 2 years I've been making a mix once a month of songs and posting them on websites for people to download. Why I've never bothered to post them on this blog actually baffles me. So here's the first of a monthly series.
The difference between this blog and the other places is I'll bring down the reason why some of the songs have appeared on the mix (but not all). The two strangest song choices on this CD are "Forever Young" from Care Bears 2: The New Generation & Home is Where the Heart is from the Disney Afternoon. This is almost strictly because since deciding that I am going to move in the near future both of those songs have been running through my head. Although not strictly due to their lyrical content (although it's part of it) those songs hold a very special nostalgic spot in my heart.
As for the Micky & Mitch song from A Mighty Wind, I had recently re-watched the movie. While all the songs in that movie are funny, that one is legitimately beautiful. I slightly broke one of Nick Hornby's rules of mixtapes (never two songs by the artist) I got around that by including the live version of Blaster the Rocket Man's best song "Frankenstien's Monster Needs a Wife" as well as the wonderfully bizarre Calibretto cover of their hit song "Lost in Space (I'm Only Humanoid)".
The Leftovers are my newest obsession. Jonathan London played them for me while I was in LA and I haven't been able to stop listening to their 2009 album Eager to Please. If you enjoy "Get out of my Head" I highly recommend purchasing the whole album.
Finally Nirvana's "Serve the Servants". It's easy to crap on Kurt Cobain for being a weak guitar player and terrible vocalist/song-writer. While I definitely agree with the poor song writing of Nevermind (Cobain even admitted to just going into the studio and making up words on the spot just to fit the melodies) when they recorded In Utereo he actually wrote down lyrics that reflected on his career ("Teenage angst has paid off well/now I'm bored and old"), the relationship of the press & his wife ("if she floats then she is not/a witch like we thought") & his relationship with his parents ("I tried hard to have a father but instead I had a dad"). The song is the most clear song Nirvana has every released, which is to say it actually makes sense.
Here's the Full Track List:
1. Palmdale - Afroman
2. It Must Be Wonderful - Outer Circle
3. A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow - Micky & Mitch
4. Forever Young - Care Bears 2
5. Get Out of My Head - The Leftovers
6. Bohemian Like you - The Dandy Warhols
7. Last Nite - The Strokes
8. Serve the Servants - Nirvana
9. Out of my Head - Fastball
10. Just a Gigalo - David Lee Roth
11. Fairytale of New York - No Use for A Name
12. Packing Blankets - Eels
13. Masonic - Craig's Brother
14. Lunch for the Sky - Socratic
15. pw/om - mc chris
16. Frankenstien's Monster Needs a Wife (live) - Blaster the Rocket Man
17. Home is where the Heart is - Disney Afternoon
18. Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
19. We Rule the School - Belle & Sebastian
20. Social Disease - Elton John
21. Lazy Boy Dash - Jimmie's Chicken Shack
22. Lost in Space (I'm only Humanoid) - Calibretto
Links to download:
Rapidshare Link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/413503944/August_16th.zip
MediaFire Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?muy0h49um96s409
The difference between this blog and the other places is I'll bring down the reason why some of the songs have appeared on the mix (but not all). The two strangest song choices on this CD are "Forever Young" from Care Bears 2: The New Generation & Home is Where the Heart is from the Disney Afternoon. This is almost strictly because since deciding that I am going to move in the near future both of those songs have been running through my head. Although not strictly due to their lyrical content (although it's part of it) those songs hold a very special nostalgic spot in my heart.
As for the Micky & Mitch song from A Mighty Wind, I had recently re-watched the movie. While all the songs in that movie are funny, that one is legitimately beautiful. I slightly broke one of Nick Hornby's rules of mixtapes (never two songs by the artist) I got around that by including the live version of Blaster the Rocket Man's best song "Frankenstien's Monster Needs a Wife" as well as the wonderfully bizarre Calibretto cover of their hit song "Lost in Space (I'm Only Humanoid)".
The Leftovers are my newest obsession. Jonathan London played them for me while I was in LA and I haven't been able to stop listening to their 2009 album Eager to Please. If you enjoy "Get out of my Head" I highly recommend purchasing the whole album.
Finally Nirvana's "Serve the Servants". It's easy to crap on Kurt Cobain for being a weak guitar player and terrible vocalist/song-writer. While I definitely agree with the poor song writing of Nevermind (Cobain even admitted to just going into the studio and making up words on the spot just to fit the melodies) when they recorded In Utereo he actually wrote down lyrics that reflected on his career ("Teenage angst has paid off well/now I'm bored and old"), the relationship of the press & his wife ("if she floats then she is not/a witch like we thought") & his relationship with his parents ("I tried hard to have a father but instead I had a dad"). The song is the most clear song Nirvana has every released, which is to say it actually makes sense.
Here's the Full Track List:
1. Palmdale - Afroman
2. It Must Be Wonderful - Outer Circle
3. A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow - Micky & Mitch
4. Forever Young - Care Bears 2
5. Get Out of My Head - The Leftovers
6. Bohemian Like you - The Dandy Warhols
7. Last Nite - The Strokes
8. Serve the Servants - Nirvana
9. Out of my Head - Fastball
10. Just a Gigalo - David Lee Roth
11. Fairytale of New York - No Use for A Name
12. Packing Blankets - Eels
13. Masonic - Craig's Brother
14. Lunch for the Sky - Socratic
15. pw/om - mc chris
16. Frankenstien's Monster Needs a Wife (live) - Blaster the Rocket Man
17. Home is where the Heart is - Disney Afternoon
18. Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
19. We Rule the School - Belle & Sebastian
20. Social Disease - Elton John
21. Lazy Boy Dash - Jimmie's Chicken Shack
22. Lost in Space (I'm only Humanoid) - Calibretto
Links to download:
Rapidshare Link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/413503944/August_16th.zip
MediaFire Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?muy0h49um96s409
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