I was doing research on the Philharmonics for a college class when I came across this page: http://www.arts.ucla.edu/press/1999spring/interdisciplinary/interdisciplinary_16.htm

The last picture on the bottom of the page, is that Mike? It's black and white and he's far away in the picture so its hard to tell for sure. It could be since he's from California. There's also a Michael Uhler listed on the members page (http://music.arts.ucla.edu/PerfEns/OrchMembers.html).

This proves two facts: 1. All roads lead back to Common Rotation (you can be innocently doing research and then poof Common Ro). And 2. Fate really doesn't want me to finish this essay since I keep finding cool stuff like this to keep me occupied (I wonder if my professor will buy that excuse).

Speaking of finding weird stuff on the net, Kufs.org is a site for the Kentucky Underground Fetish Society. (I find this highly disturbing *g*) There's also a Kufs Disease, but for the life of me I can't decipher the medical terms to figure out what it really is.


Has anyone heard the original "Don't Let's Start" by TMBG? I downloaded it the other day after a long discussion with a hardcore TMBG fan who promised to listen to some Common Ro if I listened to some TMBG. So I found that song first, and holy 80's synthesizer! I did like some of the TMBG songs when I downloaded them, but I still maintain that Common Ro does a better cover of the song that the original.

I am a definite TMBG fan and I like both versions of the song. I like the original, but I also really love CR's cover of it...

..in listening to more TMBG, 'Lincoln' and 'Flood' are the best starter albums, IMHO. Having been a TMBG fan for almost 10 years, I think I can safely make a recommendation here.

Cmon Vixen, do it for me!

LOL. that's mike with hair. i know he was at ucla at some point in the last five years.

thanks for the distraction from my own essay (mine is on the book joseph andrews)

good luck on your own project and convincing your professor that you did the research.

Yep mike went to UCLA for his undergrad but a few years before I ever got there. Then he went to USC for grad school.. wonder if there is stuff about him there..?

Speaking of other UCLA alumni, Tom Lenk was a student the same time I was at one point. I remember that in the summer of 99 I was going to audition for Jesus Christ Superstar, which he ended up doing. Darn it!

Gypsy - Ooh.. I'd love to be in JCS! Sorry you didn't get in. The fun of auditions.

~Hacker Groupie

HG: LOL. isn't it a great show?!? Okay this is going to sound totally conceited but I never auditioned for the show. They planned to rehearse during the summer when I moved home. Maybe if I had tried....

Gypsy - shame on you! You should have auditioned But if you had to be at home.. well, you have a valid excuse. I guess

I would love to be in JCS. They never put it on at my theatre back home. My only main disappointment there was not being able to be in Marat/Sade. They performed it while I was in New Orleans There is a movie version of Marat/Sade you can rent that is great. It's not technically a musical - but it should be. It's about the Marquis de Sade and is one of those plays within a play.

Anything with songs like the "Copulation Round" have got to be great, right?

~The Groupie

I listened to some more of their stuff last night. It sounds alot like old filk songs. And a lot of the stuff I remember from the CR shows. What's that one about the sun with the flashing strobe lights? I heard that at the Vanderbilt and me and my friends were just like "What the hell?!" And Constantiople (which I can't spell) is an old classic, but was it always done by TMBG or is that a cover?

Yay Vixen, now you're sucked in! Mwahahahah*coughcough*...ahem...

The song you're thinking of is "Why Does the Sun Shine?" which was originally a song on an educational children's record many years ago. The version they recorded isn't like the live version which is all rockin out and loud, but they're both fun.

And as for the other song, which is actually called "Istanbul"...I want to say I think it's theirs originally, but I'm not positive. Are you thinking of when it was used on "Tiny Toons" back in the day?

What other songs have you downloaded?

LOL, exactly! Also that song reminds me of the CR show in Arizona when this cute guy came up to me and he smiled and was like, "Great song, huh?" And I nodded and said, "I actually came here for the other band." And he was like "Oh" and just walked away. Damn it, but he was interested for a moment, maybe if I had known anything about TMBG I would be off having an illecit affair right now. snickers

I also have "We want a rock" (nice tune but I'm not sure I want a prostetic on MY forehead *g*), "Particle Man" (which also seems like a cover), "My Evil Twin" (I love the lyrics), "Robot Parade" (Warren anyone?), and some others.

"Everybody Conga - No, we fucking mean it!"
This was the chant that TMBG were using to entice the crowd to conga at the Vanderbilt when the boys opened for them last December. I am not a fan of the conga, mainly because of the Beanery crowd that would conga every Sunday (The boys had a Sunday gig - refer to previous posts for more info)
Anyhoo, I get dragged into this cheezball conga line and the crowd is going nuts. Then the band breaks into another song (possibly Dr. Worm) and the conga line that I originally despised, deposited me front row center! I've never been a huge fan of TMBG, just a marginal fan, but the up-close personal performance definitely changed my mind. They were completely amazing, they were so fucking on that it blew my mind! I have been forced to re-exam my stance on conga lines and the universe in general. How could that much good come from that much evil? That's right evil to the core!

My friend maintains that he was the one that started the conga line at the Vanderbilt. It doesn't surprise me at all that he was the source of that evil.

TMBG yelling at the audience to conga for that song, "No One Knows My Plan," is totally standard, and very funny. And as much as I'm also not a huge conga fan, it invariably gets me a better spot closer to the stage. Three times I think that's happened for me at a TMBG show. They're so much fun live.

Fun TMBG fact! John Flansburgh's wife, Robin, is the woman whose voice you hear singing "Dr. Evil" at the beginning of Austin Powers 2.

And yeah, the conga line at the Beanery...I joined it a couple of times, but usually felt pretty silly about it. I think it only bugged me on behalf of the waiters (who I was chummy with) b/c it meant they couldn't get around to the tables with the conga going on.

Good times!

Vixen-LOL that's too funny. And I love that song, and yay it's gonna be the first single off the new album! bounce Mike with hair that's too funny.

HG-we all know how much you love JCS. Considering you sing it at every White Eagle rehearsal. I need to teach you some more Tommy. Besides Cousin Kevin g

I listened to TMBG when Cece played it. I wasn't that impressed. Sorry TMBG fans, I prefer CR.



*wuvs*

TB

Adam's Biggest Fan
ABC #1-Founder and Official Geek
ABC Version 1.0 Retro Adam
West Coast So Cal Common Ro Pimp
"Don't don't don't let's start this is the worst part. To believe for all the world, that you're my precious little girl. Don't don't don't let's start, I've got a weak heart. I can't get around till you get around."-"Don't Let's Start", They Might Be Giants covered by Common Rotation-
"It's not the size of the mic it's the length of the song."-"Rockstar", Common Rotation-
"What was so delicately touching was she recalled that I preferred it red."-"Burgandy", Common Rotation-
"I'm not a poet, nor a prophet though I dream from time to time. I'm an artist of illusion and I sketch a strange design.. So don't pay me with respect, just pay me with attention."-"Did A Verse End?", Common Rotation-
"When I was younger I used to get angry at all the girls. Now that I'm older, I just get angry at the world."-"Oklahoma", Common Rotation-

TB - Tommy. Yes, well. I was in the chorus for that many years ago.. don't really remember much of it.. I memorise... use.. promptly forget. It's good.

"When work is done, you'll look at him.. he'll never be more alive. My blood will run, through his skin.. watch his body writhe! I'm the Gypsy! The Acid Queen! Pay before we start. I'm the Gypsy. I'm guaranteed. To tear his soul apart."

And you, my dear, need to learn Les Miserables. And Marat/Sade..

"What's the point of a revolution without general... general copulation, copulation, copulation.."

~Groupie is tired

Hacker-I told you already Les Mis is Jeff's favorite. That would just be freaky. But alright you learn Tommy and I'll learn Les Mis.

But I do know one song, I Dreamed A Dream. Only cuz Neil Diamond sang it at Hot August Nights 2 in 1986 at the Forum.

Copulation? Oh dear.

Almost as bad as Reproduction. Haha. Grease 2. g

And don't forget... "I'm the schoooooool bully. The classroom cheat. The nastiest playfriend you ever did meet. I'll put glass in your dinner and spikes on your seat."

snicker

*wuvs*

TB

Adam's Biggest Fan
ABC #1-Founder and Official Geek
ABC Version 1.0 Retro Adam
West Coast So Cal Common Ro Pimp
"Don't don't don't let's start this is the worst part. To believe for all the world, that you're my precious little girl. Don't don't don't let's start, I've got a weak heart. I can't get around till you get around."-"Don't Let's Start", They Might Be Giants covered by Common Rotation-
"It's not the size of the mic it's the length of the song."-"Rockstar", Common Rotation-
"What was so delicately touching was she recalled that I preferred it red."-"Burgandy", Common Rotation-
"I'm not a poet, nor a prophet though I dream from time to time. I'm an artist of illusion and I sketch a strange design.. So don't pay me with respect, just pay me with attention."-"Did A Verse End?", Common Rotation-
"When I was younger I used to get angry at all the girls. Now that I'm older, I just get angry at the world."-"Oklahoma", Common Rotation-

TB, you don't kow Les Mis? I am so ashamed! I looove Les Mis

And the TMBG tape I was listening to was crappy quality... you might like them better if you heard a non-sucky tape

Les Miz is closing on Bway.

I'm honestly shocked- was next door at the Music Box last night (seeing Amour, which has to be one of the most simultaneously delightful and bizarre shows I've ever seen)and the audience outside Les Miz was huge.

They couldn't close Phantom?

Sheesh.

~Cricket