Fab Alert!

Released today: Seeking Major Tom, William Shatner's new album, in which he sing-talks his way through some of the most beloved space-themed songs of our time. 

Highlights: Black Sabbath's Iron Man, Deep Purple's Space Truckin', Duran Duran's Planet Earth and, naturally, Bowie's Space Oddity. 

Backed by a fleet of stellar musicians, including Peter Frampton, Zakk Wylde, Sheryl Crow, Bootsy Collins, Michael Schenker, Lyle Lovett and many more, this concept album is not to be overlooked. 

Check it out on Amazon and iTunes. Important note: You will be doing yourself a huge disservice if you fail to click on the Space Truckin' sample. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVI79PmIzFE&feature=player_embedded#! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TLD6bZIouE&feature=related

Happy Darylhallday

Darryl Hall is 65 today. Now you can start collecting those benefits, pal. Good job, rocker! 

Here's the big question of the day: Do you know which one is actually Darryl Hall? No cheating, Googler! Stop it! Just guess, damnit. 

How did you do? It's all right if you got it wrong... wait, no, it's so not all right --- it means you're a total LOSER!!!! 

I'm only mocking you to make myself feel better, dahling. I didn't know the difference between Hall and Oates until about, ummm, yesterday. Seriously, I still screw it up. Shame on me. 

Happy birthday, Mr. Hall... with your pseudo-Groucho 'stache and beady eyes. Welcome to 65, sir. 

Egad! Tricked by Oates again! When will I get it right? New mantra: Hall equals ginger mullet... Hall equals ginger mullet... Hall equals ginger mullet... Hall equals ginger mullet. 

I'll get you, Hall & Oates, if it's the last thing I do. Cue evil cackle! 

OK... this video... the sequined devil striding across the stage at the 1:07 mark... five stars. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZZngTkp54I

Important Addition

I almost f**ked up big-time... It's Bryan Ferry's 66th birthday today. Olivia Newton-John be damned! 

I would kick myself for a full year if I failed to create a post for Bryan today. He's a fabü fave. 

Better late in the day today than tomorrow, Bryan. Love you, man. Thanks for being so g.d. suave. You are the epitome of posh fabulousness and all things graceful. 

Sheesh. Lots of cursing in this post. Far from appropriate for a Bryan Ferry tribute. Deal with it, dahling. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_KFebLWpY0

Triple-Fab Birthday

Not one... not two... but THREE of my icons have birthdays today. Joy to the world! Let's admire them, shall we? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF1aUGGuhYY

Johnette Napolitano: 54

Nick Cave: 54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5cbNcoVkBM&feature=related

And, last but certainly not least, Joan Jett is 53.

I love you, Joan. You are one of the reasons I am who I am. You were there for me when I was a geeky, unpopular kid in small town Indiana, dreaming of more. I didn't have many friends to play with, but I had you in my gargantuan headphones. I obsessed over your pics and thought: If this chick can love rock 'n' roll and wear leather pants, damn it, so can I. To this very day, I still love rock 'n' roll and I still wear leather pants. Immense thanks and happy birthday, seksi betch. You positively rule.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXFra7gjElw&feature=related

R.I.P.R.E.M.

After 31 years and 15 albums, R.E.M. announced on its website this morning that the show's over. Here's the post: 

"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening."

Thanks for all the fabulousness, guys. We'll miss you. How about a comeback tour in 2012? Think about it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA57Pafq_NU

Saturday Night Lameness

We totally missed Mother Death Queen at Blackbird last night (Sorry, Cara!). We'll be at the Thursday night show -- see promo above. 

We did have a lovely early evening dog walk with Dominic of Dead on Point Five, however. Does this mean we still rock? Yes, I totally think it does.

Here's Dom and his band of not-so-merry misfits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phMB5zH0m6o

UPDATE (9/19/11): Mother Death Queen will NOT play Thursday, Sept. 22 at Launchpad. Keep ya' posted on upcoming dates. 

Highway to Drunk

Behold! It's AC/DC: The Wine. Feast your eyes on this rock n' roll wine list, dahling. 

• AC/DC Back In Black Shiraz 
• AC/DC You Shook Me All Night Long Moscato 
• AC/DC Highway To Hell Cabernet Sauvignon 
• AC/DC Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc 

What, no Whole Lotta Rosé?!? Booooo! Hiss! I quit.

Sorry, mate; the wine's only available in Australia. If you're desperate for a piece of the latest "what the hell were they thinking?!?" AC/DC merch, put your name on the waiting list for AC/DC Monopoly, which is slated for release on August 30, which happens to be my 40th birthday. That was not a gift hint; seriously. A Slayer Monopoly set, however, is a totally different story. Sadly, though, that doesn't exist. Poo! 

Via Decanter.com

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfcnoIkBdjc]

Happy Rufuswainwrightday

Oh, Rufus... dear, dear, sweet, wonderful Rufus Wainwright. God among men. Prodigy of the McGarrigle/Wainwright clan. Extraordinary, unadulterated talent. Happy 38th birthday, genius. Love you so. Thanks for creating one of the greatest songs on the Fabü Top 10. It's also on my funeral list. Hate to be morbid, but we're all gonna go someday, kids. When I do, you'll all hear this...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTQLWYWnYB8]

New Beasties!

In the spirit of the Marwencol (2000 documentary about brain-damaged Mark Hogancamp's doll-filled town in his yard), the Beastie Boys have released their new Spike Jonez music video for Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (feat. Santigold). Absolutely epic! 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhH9Y6q3Hhk]

P.S. If you've not seen Marwencol, I highly recommend. Here's the trailer. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pMWFhplFSEQ]

Fab Alert!

Check out the very talented 17-year-old Anna Burden's a capella cover of Lulu and the Lampshades' You're Gonna Miss Me. Five stars for turning a plastic cup into her own miniature drum. Ultra-fab! She's an Indiana native, which, of course, causes me to adore her even more. Take it away, Anna!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKcChGsDqnU]

(Thanks, Kim B!)

Tip of the Day

Itchy, welty mosquito bites gettin' you down? Welcome to my world... it's bug city madness ova hurr! 

Do I have some excellent news for you, dahling: meat tenderizer!

Mix it with a bit of water to create a paste. Apply to bites. No more itch; no more welts. Bam! 

Mega-thanks my brother-in-law for this incredibly effective remedy that I shall utilize for the rest of my life. 

P.S. Make sure to use the unseasoned variety of meat tenderizer, unless you enjoy smelling like eau de rotisserie. 

In honor of this fabulous tip, please enjoy this deliciously-brutal track from Albuquerque's own thrash-noise darlings, Tenderizor. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvcxMVxoNoo]

Happy First!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PArF9k2SbQk]

Debbie Birthday

Debbie Harry, empress of fierce, you put the fab in fabulous, madame. Happy 66th birthday. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqJk0q4QvZk]

Seksi Times!

Please enjoy the hotness of Raphael Saadiq's video, Stone Rollin', an ode to curvy girls. Sadly, there's an ad (soooo annoying... wish they'd cut that out) you'll have to endure first, but it's worth it.  [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHyalVRUXrA]

Happy Junecartercashday

It's June Carter Cash's 82nd birthday. Singer, songwriter, author, actress, comedienne, philanthropist and humanitarian. A true lady. Wife and mother extraordinaire. Thanks for being so fabulous, June. Hope you and Johnny are harmonizing somewhere right now. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ht82G76fRE]

Glen Cambell has Alzheimer's

Country music icon Glen Campbell, 75, has revealed he is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He was diagnosed with six months ago.  He plans to bid adieu to the music industry later this year with a series of farewell concerts. His wife of nearly 30 years, Kim, told People magazine that they were going public with the illness because his fans deserve to know the truth if he falters in his farewell concerts.

"Glen is still an awesome guitar player and singer," Kim said, "but if he flubs a lyric or gets confused on stage, I wouldn't want people to think, 'What's the matter with him? Is he drunk?'"

You rule, Glen. We love you. Thanks for everything. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p8wDhK5LyY]

Weekend Round-Up

Topic: Santa Fe fabulousness with DJB. 

Dined with friends, then headed to Santa Fe Brewing Company for the Yo La Tengo show. Al fresco, intimate, awesome. The weather, the venue, the sound, the people... the whole package receives five stars. 

After a good night's rest, we kicked around town for a while. If you've not been there recently, fair warning: they're all calling it Fanta Se now. Vendors and residents alike. My vote: thumbs-down. It's Santa Fe. Stop it. Love your city, but knock it off. Thanks in advance. 

Naturally, we had to visit Cos Bar for a high-end, luxury cosmetics fix. 

Lunch and cockies on the Coyote Cafe rooftop = yum. 

DJB = cute. 

There's more to be had, but we'll dive deeper into all that in an upcoming Fabü dedicated to Santa Fe fabulousness. 

Hope the weekend's been good to you, dahling. 

Gospel Alert!

American Idol's Fantasia Barrino has signed on for the lead role in a Mahalia Jackson biopic. The film, titled Mahalia, follow's the gospel legend's rise from poverty in New Orleans to one of the most incredible gospel singers of all time. Can't wait to see this film!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPZuWzZvoYQ]

Dumb News + THAT Song = Your Least-Favorite Post of the Day

Police arrested a man in South Memphis on Saturday after he allegedly threatened the host of a child’s birthday party with a gun because his children didn’t get any cake or ice cream.

Harsh! Click here to read the full story. 

Now enjoy THIS. If it's stuck in my head, I may as well drill it into yours. Misery loves company, dahling. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC_gkcplz_4]

Does Moby Have a Point?

Are songs by pop stars like Britney Spears and Ke$ha actually music? Not according to Moby. 

In a recent Spinner interview, the 45-year-old DJ/singer-songwriter gave his take on the matter. 

"It's fun, but I don't think of it as music," Moby said. "It's manufactured. I appreciate it as a pop culture phenomenon and some of the songs I like if I hear them in a shopping mall or something, but it doesn't function as music for me."

Moby went on to describe what he considers to be true music. 

"Music is something that communicates emotion and integrity in a really interesting, direct way," he said. "And when I listen to the pop music you're describing, it's hyper-produced corporate product. That isn't really even a criticism, but I just think calling it music is a misnomer."

Food for thought, Moby.