here is this week's blog post - Wild Bill
Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog
He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
Hope everyone had a safe Halloween!
I ended up smelling like Faygo soda thanks to getting splashed by some flying bottles at the ICP concert this past weekend. I believe that it was a combo of orange, cola and root beer though the root beer seemed to be the overwhelming odor. It wasn’t quite as crazy as I thought it would be but it was a good time. The majority of the fans were really cool and I would definitely consider going to another show. I met people from Missouri, Indiana a number of other states proving they have a rabid fan base.
At the Jessica Lea Mayfield show we got talking about the upcoming election. It is her first election and despite being on tour in Europe, she said she was getting in her absentee ballot. Personally she is voting for Obama due to his support of issues dear to her (such as abortion rights) and the fact that Palin “scares the shit out of her”. I gotta admit she scares me too though I am still undecided. Any chance of putting McCain and Obama on the same ticket? If you do plan on voting in this historic election, make sure to bring proper ID and proof of address to the polls. If possible, get there early and make sure to give yourself ample time be prepared to wait. Also, make sure you know your correct pollingplace. If for some reason, you are not listed as a registered voter, ask if your name can be found on a supplemental roll book. If not, fill out a provisional ballot. Do NOT leave without voting!
I also had the pleasure of talking to Leisha Hailey of Uh Huh Her (formerly of The Murmurs) and I hope you heard my interview with her this morning on WXOU 88.3FM (or online at www.wxou.org). Camila was feeling a little bit under the weather due to the hardships of their traveling schedule which you could tell a little by the fact she didn’t talk much during the show. Leisha is also know as the character Alice Pieszecki of Showtime's hit series “The L Word” of which she is signed on for a pilot of a spinoff series. They sold out the Magic Bag yesterday in a mostly lesbian supported show (I think I was one of 10 guys in the place) due to the popularity of the “L Word” series. While she is a little worn out from her schedule of both filming the series and finding the time to tour and write music, she says she is vey happy about where she is in her life and it shows when you meet her. Both girls stayed after the show and signed
autographs for the 50+ fans that waited after the show. I asked her about the challenges inherent in being an actor/singer and she basically said that while she knows some of the fans are just interested in seeing Uh Huh Her due to her TV role, she hopes they find themselves getting something from the music and sticking around for more. The new album is “Common Reaction” which listeners to my show should be familiar with by now and they are currently working on what she thinks will be a new EP for next year.
I had my second day on the set of the Rob Schneider movie which wasn’t quite as exciting since I got down late due to my radio show and the day was shorter (I didn’t mind since I was down there that day for the Sara Bareilles show at the Fillmore) but I did get to do a few more crowd scenes so I’ll just have to wait now to see what makes the film and what makes the cutting room floor. The lunch line was a lot better organized this time around as they had turkey and stuffing along with pasta. Not bad for a catered lunch. They are still doing some filming and you can look on Craig’s Lists for more casting calls.
I don't really get overly excited by most books series though I am a very avid reader. One graphic novel that recently took my attention was "With The Light", a wonderful story concerning a family that is trying to raise an autistic child, Hikaru, in Japanese society. The parents, Masato and Azuma, must deal with all the pressures put on by society to find ways to make their child happy. Autism itself is caused by a malfunction of the brain which can prevent a child from developing properly. Hikaru gets nervous when touched, dislikes loud noises, can't cope with change very well (whether it be a new location for a classroom or misplacing a toy), scared of dogs and doesn't always know when to stop doing something. He likes shiny objects and running water. In the book, the parents along with certain teachers and friends learn to find ways to help Hikaru communicate what he wants, be it needing to go to the bathroom or wanting a second portion of food. They find he is very capable when given a schedule of things to do and given choices which are written out (and preferably when accompanied by a photo). They also live with any moment Hikaru could wander off when they are distracted or could go into a wild tantrum. This condition is often made worse by teachers who can't understand why Hikaru can't do what he is told like the other kids, adults who think Hikaru is just a stubborn child and the parents are failures and some people who just can't grasp his illness. They had a hard time finding a school that would accept him and treat him with respect and later had to deal with a supportive principal's death and a teacher they liked having to move to another district. The joy here is the journey they go through and the love the parents have. Moments where Hikaru is actually able to join in a school function or actually is able to politely ask for something are moments of pure joy in the book. The graphic novel also includes letters and source material that talk about the pressures of raising an autistic child and what is available to help parents or friends of autistic children what they need to know. The graphic style really conveys a lot of info that would be very helpful, though it can be read just for the story value alone. Hikaru's journey is a special one I have followed through 3 volumes so far and I cannot wait until the 4th.
A few good shows coming up, esp tonight at the Palace is Coldplay. Grammy winning Latin-styled Café Tacuba will be playing at St Andrews on the 6th. Michael Franti & Spearhead will be at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on the 7th with Back Door Slam opening. Hall & Oates will play a pair of show at Caesar’s Windsor on the 7th and 8th. Also, on the 8th is Kings Of Leon and We Are Scientists at the Fillmore. And don’t forget Avenue Q, basically a musical version of Sesame Street for adults, will be starting this week at the Fisher Theatre.
Listen for an interview with performer Cole Porter on my show Thursday. Since the musical soundtrack for it was released, the song "The Internet is For Porn" has become particularly popular on YouTube and can be downloaded for free from the official website.
Don’t forget if you haven’t done this already, make sure to set your clock back one hour.
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