Pepperdine/Gonzaga Live Blog

6:12- Gonzaga has gone out to a 12-0 to start the game and this is just getting out of hand. Like shooting fish in a very, very tiny barrell.

6:14- The Zags have taken a comaning lead in the game, thanks to the inside-outside of Heytvelt and Matt Bouldin. The Waves have no chance as Austin Daye made it 15-0.

6:18- My boy Mychel Thompson makes a bucket to make it 2-17, with 13:39 left in the first half. Nothing has gone well with the Thompson family, as his dad Mychal just got cut from his radio show

6:21- Pepperdine finally showing that they have more life than Brett Michaels ladies tits, quick scores have the game at 1/4 of what it is (forgive my math) after Dane Suttle hits a three with 11:25 remaining to keep the score somewhat close at 10-21

7:05- 2nd half has started, the D-League chants for Heytvelt have begun. Yes. Oh ,and the "Yes, We Can" for the 'Dine.


6:51:- Gonzaga didn't nesessarily "pullout" of this game, yet. The beatdown that we have recieved the last three years has been a lot more than what we have revcieved today. The Zags have done a great job spreading and attacking our zone, as well as constricitng us the first half of the first half (too much?). There is no doubt in anyone's mind that they are a top team in the nation, and they are proving it.

The question is, can Pepperdine prove them wrong?


6:26- Gus Clardy comes into the game. Yeah, its that bad.

6:32- Things are starting to go Pepperidne's way, reserve center for the Zags Will Foster mised a dunk and Keion Bell just drew an offensive foul with 7 min remaining in the first half. My god this has gone slowly.

6:38- The crowd has ever-so filled out, thanks to Los Angeles traffic, and we are looking at about 80% capacity. The game has slowly turned into a turnover crowd, with 3 back-to-back turnovers. Daye just made a tough layup for the And-1. Does Pepperdine have a chance. As much as a chance of you betting on the Arizona Cardinals a month before the season started to make the Superbowl.

6:42- So has the 'Dine been succesful in destroying my horrible bet against them. Well, yes. I took the spread. I'm not gonna lie. They have the 3 points at home that I thought they weren't going to. The spread is officially 27 tonight, and my faithful Waves are cheating on me my nine almost at the half. They are playing somewhat well though, considering Gonzaga is (what I think) a great tournament team.

6:48- Keion Bell hits a tough jumper in the lane and suddenly we are somehow down 11. I BET ON GONZAGA. Jesus. Why do i constantly dissaprove Jesus?!??!

6:55- The first half! Well, so far, so good...in my sports book. Look, we knew we weren't going to beat the Zags, but at the same time we hope for something competitive. The Waves have done a great job staying in this game, as opposed to the Saint Mary's game which we essentially over by the 16-1 run SMC had to start the game with.

We are down 19, there is no doubt, but once again, I will make sure. We cover the spread, I will rage.
Half-time score- 45-26.

It's really been Keion and Mychel keeping us in this game on O and D. Once again we have more turnovers than assists, and I think the only chance we have at winning a game is if we change that stat to the positive.

7:09- We are only down by nine. Let me say that again, WE ARE ONLY DOWN BY NINE. Hard to believe, but Keion and the greatest name to say in sports, Mike Hornbuckle, have gone on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to nine, 34-45 (now 11, 34-48), and the Waves might MIGHT have some life in them. High tide anyone?

7:13- Only down by 14, the Waves need to get a stop every time down the court.

7:18- The game has gotten signifigantly quicker, as both teams are running and gunnin' up and down the court to make everyone in the Fieldhouse excited. Lets put it this way, I BET ON GONZAGA TO COVER 27 POINTS. I will except my defeat, its worth the $10 a threw on the game.

7:21- A blue shirt with a blue tie Asbury? Really?

7:23- The rebounding for the Waves has just become a "who can tip better" matchup. The Waves are never rebounding solidly, just tipping to each other, I and fully believe that is causing the margin of score, somewhat.

7:27- answer for answer, the Zags have been step for step, (another close analogy here) and are just plain better, apparently not enough to cover my $10.

7:33- 7:59 remaing in the 2nd half, and once again I am losing $10, becuase of the spread. Although I am very VERY excited the girl found the gift check on the floor during a media timeout. SUPER EZxcited!.

I just tried to talk to an ESPN Magazine reporter and he really wasn't as excited as the former ones to be here at the Fieldhouse. I wonder why? Maybe because this game hasn't been exciting since 2003?

7:35- We get some help form Micah Downs on a tip-in, but then he hits a jumper ten seconds later to totally redeem himself (as opposed to 40 mpg on this hog). He still got a girl preggers in WA, I know this.

7:40- Micah realizes that he has to tend to his bench warmer duties, something he needs to get used to in the NBA, as Taylor Darby shoots a 1-and-1 to once again KILL MY BET.F!.

7:45- This has been by far the most competitive game I have seen the Waves play against Gonzaga. To say that I have hope for the future is like saying the Yankees will sign someone for another $100 million contract in the next 5 years. I have hope for the cheerleading squad, the events, the new Fieldhouse to be filled with people. YES WE CAN!

7:49- 63-78, there goes my bet.

7:53- Final score: 69-83. The Waves kept it close throughout the game. I think this is a stepping stone that they can build on to at least keep their spirits high with this "loss," considering a loss was expected to be in the range of 30 points.

Bloc Pary- So Here We Are

If you're staying in like me tonight -- whether it's because your car can't withstand the 70mph winds outside, you didn't real feel like flying or the Clippers just keep your spirits down yet again (you know what my case would be), a classic 2005 song has reminded me, without getting all nostalgic, about why we do stay in sometimes on a weekend.

We reflect.

We all need time to ourselves. Check emails, read something non-school related, etc.

Brit dance-rockers Bloc Party came onto the American scene with this song in Saturn and Ford ads in the late '05. I think the music video is just as important as the song itself, because they both play off one another in a "above the clouds, yet down on the leaves" kind of way. "So Here We Are" is one of the finest ballads in the punk-dance-rock revolution that we have experienced in the past few years.

It sings of love. Just love. Whether it be of friends, long lost or up-and-coming. Sometimes it's all we need.

Or you could just watch "Cocktail" like I did, and watch Cruise just ball it up on-screen.

Animal Collective- Merritweather Post Pavillion

To most in the mainsteam, Animal Collective has been written off as a freak-folk band. I sometimes tend to agree. For every beautiful peace of music they put together, there is abrupt noise, instrument thrashing, 10-minute pieces of one guitar chord. Then came Noah Lennox's (aka Panda Bear) Person Pitch, Pitchfork's best album of 2007.

Released shortly after AC's 7th studio album, Strawberry Jam (itself a disjointed effort of beauty and freak-noise), Panda Bear's new take on Beach Boy's-era Pet Sounds was a crash course in minimilast electronics and Brain Wilson-esque voice inflections, grooves and hymns. From that success grew Lennox as the head of the now 3-member Animal Collective (they have a "open door policy" that has seen 4th member "Deakin" come and go, more go than come), and I knew he would take control over the band of guiaritst/vocalist Avery Tare.

Soon, AC was playing Person Pitch songs in their live sets, and I knew their next and highly-anticipated album would be one closer to Panda Bear's style than anything else. And much like Radiohead's latest release, In Rainbows, much, if not all the material is road-tested for some time, letting them tweak, provoke, and inspire themselves to finally lay down the tracks on record.


Juding from the initial reviews, songs, and my first listen to the album last night, this is by far their biggest "pop" record to date, meaning almost everyone, AC fans or their most experimental work, to the people who haven't heard them yet, will be able to listen along. The two intial tracks that will take everyone by surprise are both Panda Bear songs, "My Girls" and "Brother Sport." Both have amazing vocal harmonies and danceable beats, courtesty of Geologist. "Girls" pairs Tare and Panda Bear sing-songing along above the synth and bass heavy, almost M.I.A.-like beat, while "Brother Sport," a live staple for over two years, finally gets the right treatment, recorded to perfection over a quick snare and several loops and sample throughout the track.

Brother Sport (live)

My Girls (from the album)


This is a dance record, no doubt. It is a cullmination of all the good things AC does so well. They have finally put aside their differences and their "art for art's sake" style of freak-folk to make their first perfect album.
The album title comes from the Frank Ghery designed concert venue in the Baltimore suburban woods, where the three attended concert in there youth. They will have no trouble at all playing these songs on a cool, clear summer night.

Spin Article on the band

Myspace

(Ed. note: Full album review will come in Pepperdine's newspaper next week and be posted on this site.)

Empire of the Sun- Walking on a Dream

Its always great to be in college. On one hand, you have your times and experiences at base camp, your campus. Then eventually, everyone goes their separate ways throughout college. Some study abroad. Some do summer internships in far off places. Some even follow their significant other, tail between their legs, to wherever that leads them (usually to a demented twist of relationship Facebook status).

Lucky for us, every brings their stories, cultural learning's, and music along with them. Now I'm not saying this post is going to change your life (please keep reading even after I said that), but this is one of those fortunate passings that has graced the blog today.

A friend who is studying in the land down under, where the toilets flush the wrong way and its full time summer break there right now, sent me the "Aussie MGMT" as he calls them. Empire of the Sun, taken after the outstanding novel, and Steven Speilberg adaptation (starring a very young Christian Bale) is like the MGMT in many ways.

For one, they take the psychedelics in their music waaay to seriously, inside and out of the music. Their theatrics, storylines, and background just oooze decadence and indulgence on themselves. But, at the same time, their music is a breath of fresh air. The snappy hooks, beats, and falsetto vocals breath light. Their promo posters and look are a cross between Star Wars and Captain EO, and their sound and lyrics isn't much different. Like MGMT, they look how they sound.

Their debut, Walking on a Dream, is also the title track and debut single, which is burning up the Australian Charts, clubs, bars, parties, etc. Like most dance/indie artists, it has taken some time to infiltrate the main-scene, thus of course finally coming across the Pacific to yours truly.

Is it as big as their epic space-filled posters, makeup and music videos (shot in Shanghai)? No, but it will make you dance in your underwear.

Empire of the Sun (Official Website)

Senior Citizens attempt hip hop hits

Looking for that perfect last-minute gift?

I have the answer - Angolan bunnies. Duh.

Happy holidays. Now go make some Pink Panty Dropper and celebrate!

Rather Red's NBA Predictions as of 12/19/08

East:
1. Boston (too fucking good)
2. Cleveland (also really fucking good)
3. Orlando (finally fucking good)
4. Atlanta (surprisingly fucking good)
5. Detroit (surprisingly not so fucking good w/ AI)
6. Miami (Dwyane Wade is fucking good)
7. Toronto (disappointingly not fucking good)
8. New Jersey (definitely not fucking good, but it's a start)
9. Chicago (Derrick Rose will be fucking good)
10. Philadelphia (should've known they wouldn't be fucking good)
11. New York (a little fucking better)
12. Milwaukee (send Redd to Cavs so they can be really really fucking good)
13. Indiana (surprisingly fucking fast)
14. Charlotte (never will be fucking good)
15. Washington (fucking terrible)

West:
1. LA Lakers (they're looking shakier than Boston & Cleveland at this point)
2. New Orleans (started slow, pulling it together)
3. Denver (we forgot how good chauncey was)
4. Portland (roy is legit)
5. San Antonio (just get out of my league already)
6. Phoenix (porter needs to let them run free)
7. Utah (boozer wants to ditch them like he ditched lebron)
8. Houston (still injury plagued, no surprise there)
9. Dallas (most likely to not succeed of the nine)
10. LA Clippers (pulling it together for morale's sake)
11. Memphis (oj mayo... wow)
12. Golden State (even with monta they're not good enough)
13. Sacramento (john salmons is their go-to guy right now... wow)
14. Minnesota (kevin mcFAIL)
15. Oklahoma City (this is what you get for leaving Seattle you fucktards)

2nd Round: Cleveland over Orlando, Boston over Atlanta, Lakers over San Antonio, New Orleans over Phoenix (all expected shit)
Championship: Lakers over Cleveland (Kobe and his all-star team will pull together... Boston is too old to be pushing it 30 games into the season, they'll fade, once Bron gets Redd or Miller, they'll be unstoppable in the East.... but the Lakers will be too much... Odom is their fucking sixth man for fuck's sake)

MVP Voting: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard.
ROY Voting: OJ Mayo, Derrick Rose, Rudy Fernandez, George Hill, Michael Beasely.
1st Team: Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade
2nd Team: Yao Ming, Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Brandon Roy
3rd Team: Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowiztki, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups
Others receiving votes in no order: Rajon Rondo, Joe Johnson, Allen Iverson, Devin Harris, Pau Gasol, Carmelo Anthony, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O'Neal.

Warped Tour 2009

The first batch of Warped Tour 2009 bands have been announced. It's looking good. I'll list the bands, ones not to miss in bold, interesting choices in italics, and the tour dates that are relevant to fans and members of the LOP crew.

June 26 (Friday) in Pomona
June 28 (Sunday) in Ventura
June 30 (Tuesday) in Phoenix
August 1 (Saturday) in Chicago
August 7 (Friday) in Boise
August 22 (Saturday) in Whale's Vagina
August 23 (Sunday) in Los Angeles
For more dates: Click here

3OH!3
A Day to Remember
A SKYLIT DRIVE
Alexisonfire
Anti-Flag
Bad Religion
Bayside
Big D and the Kids Table
Black Tide
Bouncing Souls
Breathe Carolina
Brokencyde
Cash Cash
CHIODOS
Dance Gavin Dance
Dear and the Headlights
Dirty Heads
ESCAPE THE FATE
EVERY AVENUE
Flogging Molly
Gallows
Hit the Lights
I Set My Friends on Fire
Jeffree Star
Less Than Jake
Lights
Meg & Dia
Millionaires
NOFX
Outernational
P.O.S.
SAOSIN
SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS
SENSES FAIL
Shad
SILVERSTEIN
Sing it Loud
Streetlight Manifesto
Tat
The A.K.A.s
The Architects
The Ataris
The Devil Wears Prada
The Maine
THE WHITE TIE AFFAIRr
There For Tomorrow
Therefore I Am
THRICE
TV/TV
UNDEROATH
Valencia
Westbound Train

AFI's Mystery/Contest/New Album

AFI are finally active again. They played the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, and then they started their mystery back up again. I was on their site all day as they changed the main page over and over between various dark and mysterious images. Finally, the mystery led to a website that explained their new contest:

Begin Transmission

It contains the following video. Apparently, contest entrants can make a short video about themselves. Winners get to sing on the new AFI album.

Afternoon Links: Scranton just got a little Blacker

• If you haven't gone outside after finals, opting for catching up on masturbation and movie rentals, it's raining buckets.
• Good news for you Office fans on a rainy day, which will hopefully cut out the bad news.
• A great piece done by the LA Times (newspapers relevant? who knew!) on the dreams of families done in by the housing bubble-burst here.
• While weather is on your mind, it might snow in my hometown of Santa Clarita tonight (elevation around 2,000'). Which means hit the slopes nearest you. I will come Thursday.
• If you opted to celebrate with hideous festive sweaters over the weekend, you missed one of the best SNL's of the season. No Jizz My Pants, but apparently the send-off of Amy Pohler, involving cheap blind governor jokes (just watch) is causing quite a stir on the other coast. Video below.

Thoughts?

• If you haven't seen The Prestige yet, please do. An absolute breathtaking project that will make you appreciate The Dark Knight and Batman Returns ever-s0-more.
• Guy Ritchie just got a shit-ton more rich-ie-er. (I try) Note to self: Once wife gets semi-old and ridiculously rich, introduce to douchebag male athlete.
• Here goes my only chance to get on a jumbotron.
• As to why me and Matty didn't take a year off of school and think of this, I will forever hold it against me.
• The whole TO/Tony Simpson/WhiteBoyWhitten thing gets wierder by the day, with ESPN's "factual" reporting taking the blunt hit in all of this. If you quote an "anonymous " source with just a couple people involved, how hard is it to just say who told you?
• Pepperdine's disgraced son and national douchebag-of-the-month embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich thinks he has a fighting chance and won't give up.

Neverender Box Set

Coheed and Cambria played sixteen shows these past couple months: Four in New York, four in Chicago, four in Los Angeles, and four in London. What makes this significant is that in each city, the band played one of their four albums, from beginning to end, each night. They told the story of Coheed and Cambria.

These shows are finished. However, Coheed is releasing a box set of this concert series. The Neverender box set can be ordered online for $110. It comes with 4 Live DVDs, 4 Live CDs, a documentary DVD, a hardcover photo book, and a dragonfly.

Learn more at www.coheedandcambria.com/neverender