Thursday, August 30, 2007

Back!

Hi everyone. I want to say thank you again for waiting. Let's get right into it shall we?
I was looking around on line and came across the most incredible instrument I have ever seen. It combines two things I love. Mermaids and guitars! Check out the page. The pictures of this thing are absolutely stunning. If this guy made a bass I'd be all over it. (Probably good for my bank account that he didn't ;) ) There is also a video of the instrument being played, and it sounds great.
The level of skill put into this piece just blows me away. Check out the little details! Even the case is a work of art.



Sunday, August 12, 2007

Thanks for waiting

Hi. I just wanted to let you know that I will be returning to blogging soon. I don't really have a lot of extra time these days, but fear not... yer ol' Cap'n will be back with the best vans and album covers and the few odd bits from hither and yon before too long. Talk to you soon!

Saturday, July 21, 2007

New arrival!



This morning at 6:52 am we welcomed our new child into the world!

His name is Van Patrick. He is 8lbs 13.2 oz, and 23.5 inches long. He is about 1 hour old in the picture.

HUZZAH!!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Monday, July 16, 2007

Coolest Belt Buckle ever!



I got my new belt buckle the other day I won on eBay. I love it! I had to retire my old one (VW Beetle) as it broke after 15 years. THis is an awesome replacement, and I have wanted one for a long time. Wheels look goofy, but what the hell...

Friday, July 13, 2007

Not a one. Nay nay nay.

ONly Mel Brooks could turn something like the Spanish Inqisition into a Busby Berkley style musicql number complete with synchronized swimming.
THis is one of my favorite movie clips ever, so I thought it would be a good post for a Friday. Enjoy.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Album Covers: After Bathing at Baxter's



Last time I posted a cover by Jefferson Airplane founder Paul Kantner. This time it's a cover by the band itself...Jefferson Airplane. 1967's After Bathing at Baxter's was the follow up to their breakthrough record "Surrealistic Pillow".

After having chart the topping hits "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" the band took a step away from the mainstream and decided to to make an album the way they wanted, and were given full artistic freedom on the record. The result is a album that is fun to listen to as it sprawls all over the place, and captures the experimentalness, and newness of the times. The record executives must have literaly crapped themselves when they heard some of this album like the psychedelic mash-up "A Small Package Of Value Will Come To You Shortly", the piece inspired by Joyce's "Ulysses" titled "ReJoyce" (a track which really showcases the incredible bass playing of Jack Cassady) and the nearly 10 minute instrumental "Spare Chaynge". The album itself is divided up into 'suites', each containing 2 or 3 tracks.
The cover, which depicts the house at Foulton St. where the Jefferson Airplane lived, was done by cartoonist Ron Cobb. He made the house into a most insane flying machine, and from the first time I saw this cover when I was 12, I knew it was something I had to hear. As a result it has been one of my favorite albums, one I have enjoyed for 20 years now, and it still sounds just as exciting to me as it did the first time I heard the feedback intro to "The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil".

Here's a few tracks from the album to enjoy:
Wild Thyme(H)- Jefferson Airplane

Rejoyce- Jefferson Airplane

Also in my Box widget on the side of my blog is the tune "Young Girl Sunday Blues" also from this album.