The Weekend: My confession, Rustic's return, monsters of hip-hop, treasure, and Thriller
It’s time we stopped dancing around the truth, people. Despite my outward appearance as an even-tempered, hard-working and perhaps respectable journalist, I’ve been keeping something secret.
I am a bit of a geek.
Granted, it doesn’t take much to decipher that from reading this blog (frequently talking about "Transformers," references to 1980s TV and films, and of course "Star Wars" tips that off) that I have more than a passing interest in "popular culture."
I only mention this because a part of me dies each summer when I don’t get to the San Diego Comic Con.
Now before you ditch this blog for the classifieds, the word "comic" in San Diego Comic Con is somewhat deceptive. The four-day event is not just exclusively on comic books, but typically includes panels and exhibits on TV shows, exclusive trailers for upcoming movies, celebrity appearances and all the discussions and action that happen at a mash-up of all the pastimes, cheap thrills, hobbies and guilty pleasures we all have.
Think about it: if you’re a fanatic for "Lost" and J.J. Abrams, there’s something for you. If "Battlestar Galactica" is your thing, ditto. Want to know how Pixar makes such great animated movies? New shows, the debut of trailers, and frank conversations with directors like Kevin Smith.
And yes, comics too.
Granted, there is the very real threat of fanboys dressed as the Predator, Pikachu or Aquaman, but isn’t that comedy just the icing on the cake?
Uh, anyway, there are other things going on this weekend.
FRIDAY
And they walked like giants So apparently Rustic Overtones is getting back together and the city of Portland may not survive the ordeal. You’ll have to forgive a guy who was not around during Rustic’s highs to understand the mounting hysteria. But I do recognize it’s very real. Rustic began its triumphant return earlier this week with a show at Bull Moose. Now the Weekend of Rustic begins with a show hosted by WCYY at One City Center at 5 p.m. Portland’s most notable rockers will also be playing at the Asylum this weekend, at 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Both shows are sold out.
When Their Powers Combine It’s a three-headed beast of dance music tonight at the White Heart. Boondocks, Graymatter and Shade will hold court beginning at 9 p.m. That means deep funk, Old School hits and all the new bangers as well. Oh yeah, it’s also free.
SATURDAY
Talkin’ About the Road Brzowski’s a hard workin guy. The MC always seems to be hitting the road on yet another tour. This weekend is no different. Tonight at Geno’s Brzowski is headling a local showcase along with the Milled Pavement crew, along with Hectic of LabSeven, Mike Blast and Boston’s Rite Hook and Blak Madeen. Brzo is taking to the road again with Graymatter, stop by to send him off. Doors at 9 p.m., it’s a $6 entry.
Button, button who’s got the button? WePushButtons.com is up to their monthly gig at the White Heart tonight, and featuring mainstays J.Hjort, Mike Clouds and Rocket-One. This month’s guest star is C Money Burns. If you like your summer cocktails with a Louge soundtrack, make sure to stop by after 9 p.m.
Someone’s gotta pay for all those skate keys Maine Roller Derby is gearing up for their first season at the Portland Expo and is holding the first of two benefit shows. Tonight at Bubbas Jenny Jumpstart, Don Creeper and Cyan Ruse will be playing. It’s likely the derby girls will be up to something, in the past they have been known to leg wrestle. Antics start at 9 p.m. and it’s a $4 ticket.
SUNDAY
"If you’re gonna build a time machine out of a car..." Tonight's Roof Top Films (courtesy of MENSK) presents the 1980s classic "Back to the Future" at dusk on top of Spring Street parking garage. It’s hard to argue if Michael J. Fox did a better film then this, but "Teen Wolf" and "Secret to My Success" are right up there.
But "Back to the Future," holds a special place in people’s hearts, even on their wedding day. Did you hear the one about the new bride that surprised her husband on their wedding day with a Delorean dream come true?
I’d say that’s the "Power of Love," but that would be an awful pun. Still, how far could this guy’s wife have gone? Did she pay some guys to drive around chasing them with guns as the Christopher Lloyd look-alike revs it up to 88 mph? And then there’s the whole making out with your mom thing... (Hat Tip: Pop Candy)
And now your moment of Zen, courtesy of 1,500 inmates from a Filipino prison.
Maybe you’ve seen this before, maybe not, but it is so strangely mesmerizing. What happens when you use the corrections system to choreograph classic 1980s videos? Watch for yourself (Hat Tip: Pop Candy
Justin is a former newspaper intern and has the scar tissue to prove
it. Justin has been a staff writer for the Portland Press Herald/Maine
Sunday Telegram since 2003, and in 2004 began writing a weekly column in the
Monday Magazine.
If he had to pick a label, the column would fall under "youth culture,"
covering everything from high school dance etiquette, dealing with college
debt, the resurgence of Roller Derby and Portland's one-of-a-kind music
scene. This of course has not stopped him from answering letters to Santa
Claus or writing about his experience riding shotgun in a drift car.
Justin is an export from the Midwest. He is a graduate of the University of
Missouri and is originally from Minnesota. He enjoys bacon, cheap beer,
redheads, Burt Reynolds jokes and wondering what the soundtrack to his life
would sound like.
When he grows up he wants to be an international art thief. Or Captain
America.
Until then he'll be bringing you dispatches about "the young people" and
what they do.
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