Something 4 The Weekend # 239

The Band:  Northern Lights~Southern Cross:  "Ophelia"  [mp3]

Well, today is "weed day".  You'll notice I put that in quotation marks and left it uncapitalized.  I'm ambivalent about the whole thing, really, despite my great fondness for the stuff.  I mean, it would seem strange to have a day that celebrates shrooms or LSD or MDMA.
I realize the reason for the today is education, and a supposed serious discussion about the viability of legalization and/or decriminalization, but for most of us, it's really just about reading celebrity tweets with #420 hashtags.
Ayup...

Tomorrow is the 5th annual Record Store Day.  I'll be heading to Mad City Music to pick up a few things, although the only vinyl I'll bring home will be of the free variety.  I like the idea of Record Store Day, but it seems to have been co-opted by Vinyl (with a capital V), if you know what I mean.  It's a great excuse for guys like Jack White and Fucked Up to put out limited edition 7 inchers, and for dudes who actually spend time thinking about their facial hair to snatch 'em up.

I used to go to multiple record stores weekly.  Mad City Music Exchange is my favorite record store in the city, and I haven't been there since November.  Like I said, I like the idea of Record Store Day, and I'll gladly participate for as long as they last, but if a guy like me hasn't been in his favorite shop in 5 months, I think it's safe to say places like MCMX and B-Side and even local chains like The Exclusive Co. are dead already.  Anyway...

Levon Helm passed away on Wednesday after a long bout with throat cancer.  He was a raw, soulful singer and a solid drummer who left a nice legacy as the nimble, thumping heart of The Band, and he will be missed.

Multi-instrumentalist Greg Ham of 80s Aussie Pop superstars Men At Work passed away yesterday of unknown causes at his home in Melbourne.  Men At Work were a relatively fun diversion on the pop charts, and helped usher in America's brief fascination with Australian culture.  Somewhere Yahoo Serious is crying.

Rest in peace, Levon and Greg.

Rest in peace, bowl of green.

Hotcha!  Hank