Cow and Boy

There's nothing like learning someone who's immensely talented has garnered the success they richly deserve. Mark Leiknes, a fellow alum of Grandma Mojo's Moonshine Revival, is now writing a brilliant comic titled Cow and Boy. Sure, you could read it online, but why not buy the collection from Amazon.com?

Given the continued success of former Mojo's, I am reassured that we were the funniest Wednesday night sketch comedy group at Iowa State in our day. Believe it, friends.

Ira Glass on Creative Work

I don't normally post this kind of thing, but this clip from an interview with Ira Glass is so on-the-nose when it comes to struggling to make great creative work when you don't yet have the tools. And I raise my glass to Mr. Glass for playing some of his own less accomplished work. I know there's stuff in my bottom drawer that I don't ever want to see the light of day.

Fatherland dances with Dances With Films

Fatherland will screen July 29 at the Dances With Films festival, at the Laemmle Sunset 5 in Los Angeles.

And with this news comes a flood of memories, as the Laemmle Sunset was our go-to spot for independent films and a few painful Q&A's. (Is there any other kind?)

Walking up from the parking lot, we'd have to pass this gym that was always being used by at least a few really exaggerated "LA types." Think skin tanned like leather and 60-year-old men and women with closets full of spandex.

I can only hope a few of them will step off their elipticals and walk upstairs to watch Fatherland.

80/35 Festival

Naura, Henry and I were able to check out the inaugural 80/35 Festival in Des Moines this weekend and had a great time.

With a great lineup, perfect weather, reasonable prices and manageable crowd (for a festival), it was without a doubt the best music event I've been to in Des Moines.

I caught the Flaming Lips and a bit of Andrew Bird on Friday night, then Frank Black, Drive-by Truckers and Jacob Dylan on Saturday. If I'd have had the time, I'd also have enjoyed seeing The Roots, Pieta Brown, Poison Control Center and The Envy Corps.

For more photos of the Flaming Lips spectacle, as well as the rest of the festival, there's a great Flickr feed.