The Future is Where? ( or I Believe I Was Promised a Flying Car)

Right around the wrapping of every year, I sit in quiet reflection of the past year and of the coming year. I consider where I personally feel my strengths and weakness have been, what I want to occur and what I would like to do in the year to come. And with fair consistency, I find I come back to one small burning ember that begins to rage deeply inside me until it consumes my very existence.

Where is my crazy flying future-car?

My, that's nice. Does it fly?

The year 2010 is nearly over, ushering in the another year along with a noticeable lack of flying cars and moving sidewalks in the sky hung over cities constructed of floating arcologies. Another year goes by without robot butlers in every home [ link ], without food pills or matter replicators.
And not a personal jetpack in sight.

Oh sure, we have nearly instantaneous global communication, including the ability to send and receive live video and audio to anywhere in the world. Computing has shrunk from massively sized hulking monstrosities requiring entire buildings to be housed to being able to be lost in the crack between your drivers seat and passenger seat. Hell, we're even getting close to having near-fully functional robotic limbs for those that have lost their originals. [ link ] But we still don't have flying cars. If we, as a race, make a sentient cyborg before we make a viable flying car, I'm going to be pissed.

This would look awesome parked in your driveway. Or rather flyway.

Now I know it's nobody's fault that the flying car is so delayed into our "Tomorrow of Yesterday". It's seriously difficult to make a flying car move in a safe manner, let along be reliable enough to be used by every Tomas, Richard and Henrietta. Only one company so far seems to be ready to put a model in the market for 2011, the Transition by Terrafugia. [ link ] It kinda looks like a cross between a Cessna and Herbie the Love Bug, but I guess it's all the flying car I'm going to get for now. However, the pictures on Terrafugia's website of the Transition in flight sure do look like they're computer-generated. (CGI: another awesome future innovation that isn't a flying car.)

This is the least fake looking shot. Flight!

In conclusion, while I know I'm not the only one who's got his proverbial panties in a twistie about the lack of flying cars. It's a fairly consistent discussion point on long van rides betwixt the Pockets and the consensus always seems to be the following: There's enough dangers to driving a regular car, why would you want to compound those dangers by flying? I'm not quite sure I have an answer for that. All I'm saying is: This is the future and I was promised flying cars.

Happy 2011 everybody. We hope that your New Year is filled with happiness, prosperity and love. Cheers!

Up for the Downstroke,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

Snowmageddon! (or Who Needs to See the Road? )

Wow, we had an incredible weekend! Friday found us in Milwaukee, WI, enjoying Monty Python's Spamalot [ link ] and getting a chance to hang out with our Sapphire Princess buddy, Andy Hoesl. The show was awesome and Andy plays a monster trumpet throughout. We even went out afterward and had some delicious German beers and brats. Ja wul!

'Tis but a scratch!

Upon awakening in the morning, Erika took over as driver of the Pocket Rocketeer, and off we zoomed towards St. Paul, Minnesota. We understood we were to be driving into some snow, so we left early with a song in our hearts and some coffee in our bellies. Little did we know precisely how bad it was going to get.

We saw lots of these

The snow started getting thick and heavy by mid-Wisconsin and then it was all downhill from there. We drove by dozens (and dozens) of cars that had fallen off the road and just as many tractor-trailers, some falling off the road and on to their sides.

Yeah, like this. Scary, non?

The roads were barely plowed and in some instances, the blowing snow had covered the road for what seemed like miles. White-out conditions made the driving ridiculously hazardous and all four Pockets were on High Alert, staring intently out the windshield or windows, guiding the van to the left or the right to stay on the road. Danny had the special task of being on Wiper Patrol, which included hanging out of the window of the moving van, mid-blizzard, and clearing the wipers of snow and ice. Thanks to the diligence of all the Empty Pockets, we finally managed to get off the highway and into St. Paul, where we thought we might be able to find some plowed roads. WRONG.

That bus is stuck, yo

The City of St. Paul had been forced to shut down the plows at 11 that morning and the streets were just as dangerous as the highway. After powering our monstrous van to it's destination, we unloaded in the blowing snow and started our gig for the evening at the James J. Hill library. It stopped snowing at 8 pm, but with nary a snow plow in sight, we wrapped it up and headed to our hotel where the staff told us they were stranded (!) because of the snow. Well hell. With everything in St. Paul closed, we climbed into bed and decided to check the travel conditions the next day.

This snow was smerious

Sunday found only a handful of plows on the streets and with most of the major roadways as hazardous as our trip in. We even got a textie from band-bud-for-life Andy Hoesl saying the Spamalot tour bus was stranded in Springfield, IL after sitting on the highway behind a 13-car pileup. What was a band to do? Snow day in St. Paul! One of the best things about St. Paul is the indoor Skyway system, [ link ] an elevated series of halls and malls that is more than 5 miles long and connects 47 city blocks. You can even rent apartments there. Yowzers! While most of the business inhabiting the Skyway were closed due to the snow, we got a tip that a pub down the way called The Bulldog [ link ] was open, so we hitched on down and enjoyed what has become our favorite restaurant in St. Paul. They even had truffle flavored tots. Delish!

Oh yes, and beers. They had many beers.

We spent our snow day relaxing in the hotel, with a small ten-minute excursion to a local drug store being dragged out to an hour and a half, including pushing several vehicles up an icy road and then getting stuck ourselves and having to push the van, loaded with gear, up the same icy-hill-road-of-doom. Thanks to the wonderful St. Paul residents who came to our aid, we couldn't have gotten moving without you! With that experience firmly in our brains, we hunkered down in the hotel room and refused to move except for to fetch more delightful food and beer at the Bulldog. You guys rock for being open. Seriously.

We awoke Monday morning and began our descent into Illinois. The roads had been (mostly) plowed and the drive was fairly smooth, except for the occasional slow-down where road crews were recovering trucks that had driven off the road during the snow. (see horrifying picture above) The drive was smooth and without incident and we all managed to get home safely on Monday evening, having survived yet another dangerous situation by being on-top of our game and working together as a team. A harrowing experience was brought to a close and despite the cray-zee weather, we enjoyed ourselves.

Plow that snow!

So, to all of you out there, be safe in the upcoming winter driving season and make sure you have a blanket and an emergency cold-weather kit in your car, just in case the weather gets the better of the situation.

Rock on,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

Food, Glorious Food ( or We Be Cooking )

Cooking is glorious. It brings about things triumphantly delicious, infused with effort as much as flavor. Often, cooking can be done fairly cheaply as well. In cooking, the real investment is time (as Josh can no doubt attest with his eight to twelve hour baking sessions. ) Solid time investment, whether through learning techniques, experimenting with recipes or just from good old-fashioned hard work always leads to a great learning experience, and often times a delicious one at that. We need not spend our whole lives pursuing the deep complexities of cooking, though. Sometimes we can cook just to cook.

Oh my yes.

While I haven't logged as many kitchen miles as some of my fellow Pockets, I've managed to hone my kitchen prowess to the point where I don't cut anything vital off or burn everything to a flaming lump of carbon and despair. I've done that through finding crazy simple recipes that I can memorize. Good for every occasion, they serve as my "Ace" in situations where cooking prowess is impressive. (Family holidays, meeting-the-inlaws, and high-powered business luncheons are all a go!)

Below is my recipe for sauteed asparagus. It takes all of about 15 minutes once the ingredients are gathered and is a sure-fire hit even with supposed asparagus-haters. (I used to be one before I found this recipe.) The origin of the recipe is unclear and I'm fairly sure it's an amalgamation of a bunch of different recipes, but I would bet berries to bushels that Alton Brown [ link ] was involved. Love that show.

Sauteed Asparagus
1/2 lb fresh asparagus
Virgin 0live 0il
2 tbsp soy sauce
Ground black pepper
Aluminum foil

Before anything else happens, tear off a sheet of aluminum foil and fold it into a packet. This is where you'll be steaming the asparagus when it comes out of the pan, so make sure it's big enough to hold the asparagus and still be folded shut or closed. Keep it nearby.

Trim the asparagus to whatever length you would like. I usually keep everything but the bottom three inches, but some asparagus can get "woody" even further than that, so use your best judgment. Wash and drain the asparagus.

After washing and draining the asparagus, place in a pan on medium-high heat. Drizzle olive oil on the asparagus and shake them around to very lightly coat them. Too much oil will cause smoke problems, so keep it light. Toss them about occasionally, rotating the asparagus. When the color shifts from a light green to a deeper forest green, take a stalk of asparagus out. Allow it to cool for a second and then shake it, held firmly between your fore-finger and thumb. If the asparagus is stiff and does not wiggle, it still must be cooked. When the asparagus wiggles a bit limply, it's time to put it in the aluminum steam packet we made earlier.

Place the asparagus in the pre-made aluminum foil packet and add the soy sauce and black ground pepper. Now is the time to add any other seasoning you'd like. I stay away from salt, as the soy sauce has it covered. Now just fold the packet up so it's in a bundle so no steam can escape and let it rest on a plate. (It may get a little leaky.) In four or five minutes, open the packet to reveal deliciously sauteed asparagus. And with so little effort as to make you look like a crazy dynamo-chef. While Club Nouveau [ link ] might not be on your mandatory cooking mix, you can dig it when I say "We be cooking!"

Asparagus. I've said it so many times, it's lost all meaning. Asparagus.

With that funky respect to Bill Withers,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

An Empty Pockets Holiday ( or Holiday Music Doesn't Have to Suck )

The snow is on it's way and the holiday season is in full swing. That, of course, means it's time for Christmas music playing on home radios, blasting from car stereos and being piped into every major shopping center in the nation. Josh and the Empty Pockets are proud to say we can be heard during this holiday season through fine listening devices everywhere with our tasty single "Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home." We're spinning on Sirius XM's "Radio Holly" as well as on Y94FM (Syracuse, NY), The Mix 98.7FM (Jackson, MS), Star 92.9FM (Burlington, VT) and The New Mix 97.7FM (Bakersfield, CA). We think that's awesome!

What if you can't listen to any of these fine radio or satellite stations and would like to have Josh and the Empty Pockets throw you some holiday ear-love? Why, you can contact your local station and request they play "Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home!" Below is a (very) brief list of stations, along with their request line telephone numbers, Facebook and Twitter. Let them know you want Josh and the Empty Pockets to make your holidays ROCK!

Denver, CO - 101.1FM KOSI - (303) 631-2101 - [ Facebook ]

Chicago, IL - 93.9FM WLIT - (312) 591-9548 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Fort Wayne, IN - 95.1FM WAJI - (260) 467-9500 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Jackson, MS - 98.7FM WJKK - (601) 956-0102 - [ Facebook ]

Buffalo, NY - 96.1FM WJYE - (716) 644-9696 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Long Island, NY - 94.3FM WMJC - (631) 955-0943 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

New York, NY - 106.7FM WLTW - (800) 222-1067 - [ Facebook ]

Syracuse, NY - 94.5FM WYYY - (315) 421-9494 - [ Facebook ]

Cleveland, OH - 102.1FM WDOK - (216) 578-1021 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Cincinnati, OH - 93.3FM WAKW - (513) 542-9393 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Don't forget to come on out to The Snuggery [ Facebook ] in Chicago on Wednesday, December 8 for a rockin' Josh and the Empty Pockets acoustic show starting at 9 pm. That's at 6733 N. Olmsted Ave, in the Edison Park neighborhood.

Zip it up and zip it out,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

Throw Down Your Review (or The Banjo's from Africa?)

I really dig non-western music, from gamelan to J-pop, Irish folk-music to Siberian women's choirs. I get a large sampling of music from my local library and find the rest online and I often subject my friends to it, bobbing my head and emitting cries of joy at a particularly difficult or odd part. I've more than once been caught jamming at a red-light to traditional Tuvan throat singing.

Of course, I listen to a lot of western music as well and pay special attention to the groups that use non-western influences in their music. A favored western band that utilizes a lot of non-western musical forms and musicians is Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, so when I saw "Bela Fleck: Throw Down You Heart" show up on my Netflix queue, I knew I had to watch it. Besides, it had received the Audience Award at both South-By-Southwest and the Vancouver Film Festival, so it couldn't be a disinteresting trip into ethno-musicology set to a snore-track. So I set it up, popped some popcorn and immersed myself into the music of Africa.

This film is awesome. We join Béla Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and record an album with some seriously ripping African musicians. He travels to four African countries: Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali. Along the way, he works with a wide array of musicians – from local villagers who play a twelve-foot xylophone, to a family that makes and plays the akonting (thought by many to be the original banjo), to international superstars such as the Malian diva Oumou Sangare.

The music on this documentary can be stirring and joyous or somber and liltingly sad, but it's always incredibly heartfelt. Aside from learning the history of the banjo and being introduced to unfamiliar-yet-familiar instruments, like the akonting and the xhalam (an African variation on the lute), there are also plenty of familiar instruments played in unfamiliar ways, like the blisteringly fast guitar playing of Oumou Sangare from Mali. One of my favorite moments of the whole movie happens in the village of Nakisengi in Uganda, where the village musicians assemble themselves around a giant twelve-foot long xylophone that's played with a mixture of hands and wooden stick-mallets. Twenty or so musicians, six of them playing the xylophone, create a beautifully thick and rich music that Bela weaves his banjo intricately and respectfully through.

Assembling the giant xylophone

Part of what makes this documentary so moving is that Bela is not on a mission to show the citizens of Africa his (astounding) banjo chops, but to learn techniques, scales and musical motives from the musicians there and integrate them into his own playing. He's constantly seen with a pencil and staff paper, diligently transcribing anything that hits his ear. For Bela Fleck or world music fans, this film is highly recommended, and there is also a CD available from iTunes and Amazon that contains recordings done in Africa featuring the musicians and musics from the movie. It will quickly be finding it's way into my collection and perhaps yours as well.

Word to the Brett,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

Throw Down Your Heart on Amazon [ link ]

Throw Down Your Heart on IMDB [ link ]

Official Site [ link ]

Awesomeness is Back in Style (or Gaffer's Guff a Gaffe)

Awesomeness. For awhile, it seemed that awesomeness was on the run, that it was all tapped out. A thick malaise lay across the land, rivers of lameness threatened to tear the land asunder. Just as everything looked it's same-old-day-grey, the sky cracked open, and a thick beacon of awesome shot through, spilling it's glittering gift upon the earth. Boredom dissolved, disinterest faded into non-existence and "ennui" changed to "Oh Yeah!"

What is it that has summoned such vivid awesomeness? The newest Josh and the Empty Pockets Music Video, shooting this week! And the thing that makes it even more awesome than the simple word can convey? You could be in said music video.

All you have to do is head to this website [ link ] and check out the information provided. You could be involved in the experience of a lifetime, something that's sure to create great memories and stories you'll share for years to come. Plus, who could resist so much concentrated awesomeness? Nobody, that's who.

"A tale of the power and passion exhibited, infused and expressed through the exquisite notes of music. "

-Nate Bellon(bass)

Rocking Out with the Orphans (Or Centralia, Sweet Heart O' Mine)

A drive through scenic Centralia, Illinois, nestled deep within southern Illinois, one thought comes consistently to mind: Wow, these people are all about orphans. Signs are posted at nearly every intersection in some neighborhoods, lauding the accomplishments of the orphans, heaping on the praise and adulation. It's enough to be confusing to a poor city boy until one learns that the mascot of the Centralia High School is the Orphans. How did they come by such a unusual moniker? Well, the story I was told was that long ago, the Centralia High School found themselves involved in a basketball play-off. The program lacked funding (but not spirit), and so the basketball team members showed up in whatever they usually played in, a mish-mash of shorts and shirts that one could barely recognize as a "branded team". Gazing upon the players of this rag-tag bunch of loveable misfits, legend has it the announcer uttered "These kids look like a bunch of orphans!" In true Mid-western fashion, that barbed insult was adopted as the delightful mascot for Centralia High School and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Empty Pockets were pleased as punch when the Centralia Orphans asked us to come rock out at the Tailgate party for their Homecoming Football game against the Wesclin Warriors. So we hopped in the van and headed down south, around five hours, to party the night away with the fine people of Centralia. And an awesome night it was! Not only was there a party, complete with delicious food, fun games and some sweet prizes, but the Centralia High School Rock 101 program made a rockin'-good appearance as well, putting the seal on Rocktober and pushin' it down, old-school. They even gave us some totally sweet Centralia Orphans football jerseys! (Photos to come, look for 'em!)

After rocking out for the fine Tailgaters and diving into some delicious food, we got to watch the Centralia Orphans pound the living daylights out of the Wesclin Warriors, 62 -21. How often do you get to say the phrase "We watched some Orphans beat the snot out of a bunch of Warriors?" At least once, my fine friend. At least once.

More? You want more?

We had a great time partying with the Orphans and fine folks of Centralia and we hope to be invited back next year. Special musical props go to CHS music director Kevin Devany for his awesome half-time show featuring the music of our much-loved hero, Micheal Jackson. We had a great time, Centralia, and thanks to Hannah for searching us out!

Peace, love and pancakes,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

An Empty Pockets Book Report (or The Blogg on the Dogg)

In my ramblings through the library, I often come across something that jumps off the shelves and into my hands, screaming to be checked out. Such a situation occurred when I came upon my latest hard-cover conquest, Tha Doggfather: The Times, Trials and Hardcore Truths of Snoop Dogg. I clutched it close as I checked out, filled with anticipation of the Hardcore Truths I would learn about Cordozar Calvin Broadus, the man and the legend.

These truths were pretty hardcore.

Snoop talks about his time in the Rollin' 20 Crips, his frequent interactions with the judicial system, and his famed 1993 murder trial, in which he was charged in connection with the murder of a man shot by Snoop's bodyguard. He also talks about his love for Long Beach and his mother, and his rapid rise from a music-loving young man to one of the most influential G-funk rappers ever. Snoop proves to be a effective street-philosopher, offering not only the facts of a situation as seen by Snoop, but also a the overall negatives and positives of the situation wrapped into a lesson. The book is written in the conversational tone of Snoop Dogg and can prove to be an awkward read at some points where the vernacular becomes unclear, but it proves to be a satisfyingly good stylistic decision throughout.

Having recently pulled "Doggystyle" out of the musical mothballs, Snoop's Doggy Dog's premier 1993 album bloomed with salient connections in the history provided by the book, especially tracks like "Murder Was The Case They Gave Me" and "Lodi Dodi". It will surely find itself back into my regular rotation for some G-funk enjoyment with the Doggfather.

If you're a fan of Snoop, this is a must read. It was published in 1999, so it is a bit dated, but it proves to be a fun read with the Snoop Dogg style we've all come to love. Co-author David Seay colors the book with a subtle brush that allows the flavor to be 100% Dogg.

"No one knows more of the truth about the life, and no one tells it more like it is, than Tha Doggfather, Snoop Dogg."

-Nate Bellon(bass)

Snoop Dog on Wikipedia: [link]

Doggystyle on Wikipedia: [link]

The Book!: [link]

J&tEP Newsletter!

J&tEP Newsletter, Volume VI

The New Sound Is Coming Round

This summer was a sizzler to be sure but it's about to get hotter in here: Josh and the Empty Pockets are headed into the studio in early September to record their long-awaited (and oft-requested) third album! That's right, Pocketeers, a brand new disc will be soaring your way in no time with new tunes and 92% more Erika. Empty Pockets Producer and Engineer Extraordinaire Rick Fritz will be helming the recording wheel as the lads and lady lay down their highly anticipated third studio album with fan-favorites "You Know I Do" and "All I Need" among others, along with a few brand-spanking new tunes to melt your faces and move your feet. We're all super excited and we're sure you are too! Keep an eye on the upcoming Newsletters, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace for more information on the upcoming album. This is going to ROCK.

The studio is a magical place filled with sunshine and awesomeness

A Summer of Fun

As the summer concert season winds to a close, we here at the Empty Pockets would like to say thank you to every fan who rocked with us this summer, both established Pocketeers and new-comers alike. We'd also like to thank every sound person for helping us to rock to our utmost and every liason, crew member and assorted job-doer for sweating with us and rocking with us. You all make the experience very special and we all agree that Josh and the Empty Pockets couldn't have had nearly as fun and successful a summer without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You all seriously rock. Let's do it again next year!

Here's to the rockin'est summer ever!

Free September Shows!

Friday, September 3 - Hanson Brothers Tap, Northfield, IL: 9:30 pm - 1 am
Saturday, September 11 - J Patricks Irish Pub and Grill, Chicago, IL: 10 pm to 1:30 am
Friday, September 24 - Gruben's Uptown Tap, Plainfield, IL: 8 pm to 12 am

Keep your rock aprons on people, because the new album is hot on the stove!

-Nate Bellon(bass)

J&tEP Newsletter!

J&tEP Newsletter, Volume V

NASCAR + Coca-Cola + Empty Pockets = Sizzling Summer Sensation

Josh and the Empty Pockets live in the fast lane and are slipping it into high gear at the Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, July 10 for the Coca-Cola Family Track Walk. The walk begins at approximately 3:15 p.m, around the surface of the 1.5-mile D-shaped tri-oval of Chicagoland Speedway and includes not only a ripping concert featuring Josh & the Empty Pockets but also a sweet Q &A with Coca-Cola Family drivers Denny Hamlin, 1999 Sprint Cup Champion Dale Jarrett and 2000 Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte. Holy schnikes! Neutral-drop on in and enjoy some healthy lifestyle tips, free Coca-Cola products and rip up the track with Josh and the Empty Pockets!

[ Event Link ] [ More Info ]

Arbor Theatre Summer Music Festival

One of Josh's dreams, aside from being a nationally-acclaimed rockstar/pitcher/economist, a rock-cono-pitchstar if you will, is playing at a Nike Missile silo. Thursday, July 15, witness dreams become reality as Josh and the Empty Pockets play the Arbor Theatre Summer Music Festival at the Arbor Theatre, a former Nike Missile silo converted into a lovely theatre in majestic Vernon Hills. The concert starts at 5 p.m. and includes music by Leah Druzinsky and Cleavland band-buddy Nate Jones. There is a suggested donation of $5, but any and all donations will be accepted. Come on out as we deploy a full payload of rock right into those summer-time blues!

[ Event Link ]

Par-tay in the Park!

Back by popular demand, Josh and the Empty Pockets bring Millennium Park a pocketful of rock on Thursday, July 22 with the WTMX Party In The Park. Held at the gorgeous Park Grill, the Party In The Park is a sure-fired cure for the heat. The show kicks off with Juniper Mays at 4 p.m and the Pockets take the stage at 5:30. So why not kick out of work early and enjoy a beer and a burger, or better yet, bring your boss along and enjoy a bonding experience fused with good times and great music. Rock!

[ Event Info ] [ WTMX ] [ Juniper Mays ]

Let's Get Artsy In Here

Saturday, July 31, the Empty Pockets showcase their artsy side as they rip the Lincoln Park Art and Music Fest a new rock-hole. The Empty Pockets go on at 2 p.m., but the festival goes all day Saturday and Sunday on Racine Ave, between Fullerton and Webster. The fest will be showcasing the talented local artists and musicians that make Chicago a world-wide powerhouse in the artistic community. So don your berets, take a bracing shot of Absinthe and get impressionistic with Josh and the Empty Pockets.

[ Event Link ] [ Lincoln Park CoC ]

More Free Summer Shows!

Thursday, July 8 - Deans Clothing Store, Naperville, IL: 5 - 8 pm

Friday, July 9 - Northfield Library, Northfield, IL: 6 - 8 pm

Saturday, August 14 - Norton's Restaurant, Highland Park, IL: 9:30 pm - 1 am

Saturday, August 21 - DeKalb Corn Fest, DeKalb, IL: 12 - 2 pm

[ Show Listing ]

Enjoy the summer,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

J&tEP Newsletter!

Josh and the Empty Pockets Newsletter #4

Let the Outdoor Rock Season Begin!

Josh and the Empty Pockets begin their outdoor festival shows with an evening at the Saint Bartholomew Carnival on Saturday, June 12. The music starts at eight but the carnival and the fun get rolling at noon. Enjoy the weather with a sweet carnival and a rock show. Who could ask for anything better? St. Barts is located at 4949 W. Patterson Ave in Chicago.

[WGN Press Release] [Event Info]

Skokie Nights Pick the Pockets

The Skokie Library welcomes Josh and the Empty Pockets as they rock open the 2010 summertime "Skokie Nights" series. The outdoor fun starts at 7 p.m. so why not mosey on over and enjoy the evening with some excellent music in a pretty setting. You can even visit the library while we're playing, we don't mind! Tuesday, June 15th at the Skokie Public Library is when the rock hits the fan. Who knows, you may even see Danny heading to the Media section.

[Library Link] [Event Link]

Dreams for Kids Benefit

Josh and the Empty Pockets like kids. And we also like dreams. So when we heard we could play music to help the organization Dreams for Kids [link], we jumped. June 16th, 8pm at Miska's Bar finds the Dreams for Kids Open Mic Night Fundraiser showcasing three bands, various comedy, sketches, performance art, and an open mic to close out the evening. There is a $10 donation at the door. Come out and enjoy a diverse night of entertainment that also helps Dreams for Kids continue it's wonderful mission of reaching out to underprivileged and special needs kids.

[Dreams for Kids] [Event Link]

Keep it greasy,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

J&tEP Newsletter!

Josh and the Empty Pockets Newsletter #3

Bottoms Up!

The place: The Bottom Lounge. The date: May 8th. The event: The rocking of faces from here to there and back again! That's right folks, Josh and the Empty Pockets barrel in to the Bottom Lounge on Saturday, May 8th to rock the house until it can be rocked no more. Come on out and join in the fun as we boogie the night away with fellow rockers Cobalt & The Hired Guns, Green Sugar, How Far to Austin and My My My. Be sure to get your tickets early, so you don't end up missing what's sure to be an awesome evening of face-melting rock and roll! (Plus, if you buy beforehand, you save $2.) Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show is ages 17+. Rock!

Jam Along with J&tEP

Sure, we've all done it: the music comes on, the guitar kicks in, and you can't help but air-jam along as the sweet music takes you away. Well, now you can play along with Josh and the Empty Pockets with the hot online music game, JamLegend! That's right, thanks to some righteously awesome help from a user there, now you can play guitar with Meaningless Words, the rocking track from Under the Bed. You can even use your computer-compatible Guitar Hero or Rock Band controller to enjoy the experience to it's finger-shredding fullest. Can you rock the house at the Legendary skill level?

Thesixtyone is Beautiful to Us

Online music-romp site Thesixtyone recently featured Josh and the Empty Pocket's track "Beautiful To Me" on it's main page! What's Thesixtyone? Only a seriously awesome online-music game, complete with quests, experience points, and magical long-swords! (Alright, no magical long-swords, but it's still as hip as can be.) It's also a great way to find new music to listen to, along with many options to support artists. It allows you, the fans, to judge what's hot and what's not. Will you use your ultimate power for good or for awesome? Only you can decide! Stop on in and check out Josh and the Empty Pockets on Thesixtyone today. We'll love you forever.

Help, I'm a rock!

-Nate Bellon(bass)

The Music and the TV (or Clever Rock Reference? )

"Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do it

You play the guitar on the MTV

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Money for nothin' and chicks for free"

Indeed, Dire Straits, indeed. Wise words from wise-man Mark Knopfler, a man so respected in the world of rock as to have a freaking dinosaur named after him. (Where's the Diplodocus Claptonus or the Dilophosaurus Jethro Tulli? C'mon, paleontology.) We here in the Empty Pockets feel the words even deeper, having spent much a portion of our pre-rock time moving refrigerators and color television sets, whilst delivering and installing custom kitchens... or the nearest labor equivalent. That being said and with all due seriousness, we are all very much looking forward to playing the guitar on the MTV. So, if you'll just send us our free money and chicks, that would be sweet. About the chicks: Will the come hatched or do we need an incubator?

Nate and Dan seen moving, delivering

Speaking of MTV, my ramblings about and around the internet brought me to an article about American Idol, posted on MTV's website. Before we get to the article, allow me to say this: I don't really watch American Idol at all. I understand it's appeal and I'm clearly in the minority, but it's just not for me. I have only a select amount of TV viewing time and choose to spend it on different forms of entertainment. I also haven't watched MTV too terribly much since... well, since Beavis and Butthead were originally aired, but that has more to do with access to cable than anything else. I do enjoy Rob and Big as a dirty pleasure and Silent Library, originally a Japanese game show, is often as painful and awkwardly funny as it is a salient look at the ability to find humor in the potentially painful or embarrassing situation of others. Moving on.

The Article in Question

The article, written by MTV News correspondent Jim Cantiello, is a mildly-acerbic, tounge-in-cheek 60 second wrap-up of the recent happenings on American Idol. Nothing staggering, but quick and effective, allowing those of us who don't afford the time to consume the product to at least converse on a certain level with those who do. Until this:

"But "Idol" is first and foremost a music show (just kidding)..."

Whoa, MTV. Whoa. I know you're the grand-daddy in the room when it comes to music videos and promotion, but whoa. Isn't that a bit too cheeky? I mean, really. Inspecting the MTV and MTV2 lineups shows a large majority of the programming isn't really music related at all. Sure, you can stream music videos from MTV.com, but that doesn't satiate the burning need for music videos on my television screen. However, I'm aware that advertising revenues are probably better with a channel playing more diverse and culturally-targeted programming and running a television channel must be expensive, so I present you a deal:

Just gimme one week.

Make your money, pay your bills, do your thing for fifty-one weeks a year. Just give me one week where I can sit at the telly, hit the MTV and soak myself in delicious music. Surely, Viacom would most likely say, you can gain your video-based jollies from MTV Hits or MTV Jams, which provide mainly music videos. Honestly, I say I cannot. They don't come with my basic cable package nor are the packed with the nostalgic je ne sais quoi that can only come from pure, uncut MTV. Come on, MTV. I loved you once. Just hit my with that delicious juice for one week a year and you can say anything you want to anyone you please about their musical credentials. For as Sting so stirringly opined in "Money for Nothing", I want my MTV.

Rock it hard,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

Dead Diamonds by Daniel Rosenthal

Ok, so I’m in a band.
You might be in a band or know someone who is.
Most likely you know at least me, Nate, Erika, or Josh, and hey, if we haven’t met we probably should. What is better than making friends? The band is a great conversation starter. Maybe it would go like this:

YOU: “Hey, who are you?”
ME: “I’m the drummer (wink).”
YOU: “Let’s hang out.”
ME: “Hell yeah.”
(We talk into the distance)



If you know me (which we already decided you may or may not) you would know that I latch on to new ideas like Nate to any man he sees (it's a gay joke... get it?).
Maybe the most fun I have with the band is when we are in the van talking about what makes the world go 'round. We’re always discussing why friends/companies/relatives/politicians do the things they do. We come up with all these theories that should really be written down here instead of me telling you that we have them. One of the topics we tend to discuss is the meaning of life, and thereby the meaning of its opposite.

Are we friends yet? Sweet. Now that we are friends, I want to talk to you about death.
Apparently there is nothing to stop this disease called life, which is killing all of us. Not like we should stop death.
What if we could decide who lives and who dies? Who would make the call? I suggest looking past this whole life thing and start thinking about what we are going to do after it's all over.
You really only have a couple of options. Be put in a hole, kept in a vase or turned into something from a horror movie.

There's got to be a better way! Wait. I have it.

Get yourself... DIAMONDIZED. i.e. pressurize your remains for a few million years in order to turn yourself in to a shiny, indestructible rock!
I know what you are thinking, gentlemen, "women never paid me any heed in life... but now... the possibilities are endless."
But, yes, maybe you’ll be dropped down the sink when the someone who survived you is washing the dishes. On the other hand, you always loved water parks, right?
I guess what I am really trying to say is there are lots of options when this life comes to a close. Don’t wait until you're dead to make decisions about it, because you can’t, you'll be dead.
Oh, and now that we’re friends I want you to know that I want be made into a diamond. I’m pretty sure at least. I really get hooked on new things I hear about. Oh, oh, will you wear me when I’m dead?

My Mind is Made Up (or Swords for Everyone!)

Many things can be said to contain the attribute awesome. The laptop, the race car, the iPod, and we all have our own personal and cultural ideas of that which is awesome. But certainly, there is one thing that can be held above all others as the pinnacle of awesome-osity: the sword.

That's right, the almighty sword. Whether it be a Gladius, Two-Handed or Katana, swords are a sign of power and might throughout the world... and they're just plain awesome. Seriously. And if you have any doubts, watch Reclaiming the Blade [link], narrated by John Rhys-Davies, one of the few men who's voice-over work could escalate a documentary about something so awesome as the sword to a level of awesome-itude that could prove to be lethal to all within ear-shot.

Don't believe me? Watch this. (If the involvement of JRD isn't enough to slake your awesome-lust, Bob Anderson is also in the film. Who is Bob Anderson? He's Darth freaking Vader.)

After watching this documentary, I was so over-taken with the sheer awesomeness that is the sword, I found my very soul screaming forward from a newly awakened need, a powerful and ancient urge no doubt inherited from my ancestors. A gene hidden deep in my being, awaiting a primal trigger so that it's purpose may be fulfilled. What I'm saying is, I need a sword. A real one. I'll play with it and feed it and take it for walks, honest. I'll name it something awesome, like Thurl Ravenscroft [link] and I'll put it to sleep every night. I swear. I just want a high-carbon steel, heat-tempered, full-tanged beauty of my very own.

So, I'm off to do a little light shopping. Tally ho, ya'll.

Keep it low and in row,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

I Have a man-crush on Michael J. Fox

I was just watching an episode of that show Spin City (they stopped making new episodes in 2004) and was motivated to share. I love Michael J Fox. One time, I was at a Cubs game and he was the special guest during the 7th inning stretch. That was awesome.

Which got me researching and thinking...



Can you, even for a moment, imagine a world where the opening titles of "Family Ties" are ending and the last cast member name comes up as:

Michael Fox

No. You can't. It's impossible, and that's a fact. The reason is because the soon to be 49-year-old actor of "Back to the Future" fame derives his worldly power, wealth and charming good looks not from his starring roles in such Hollywood gems as "Teen Wolf" and "The American President". It has nothing to do with his prolific voice-over career ("Homeward Bound" anyone? "Stuart Little" perhaps?). It does, however, have everything to do with the eternal and mystical power of the letter J. At least that's what it said on Wikipedia. Weird.

Anyways, here's to you J. Fox. You're the man. Keep on rocking and don't let that Parkinsons get you don't.

Josh

PS A much belated fuck you to Rush Limbaugh.

Valentine’s Day by Daniel Rosenthal

The widely cherished by the loved and in love while extremely disapproved of by the heart broken, lonely, and some might even say, heartless Valentine’s Day feels too close for comfort. I, however, have as much anticipation as skepticism this year. It isn’t every year I am dating someone around this time. Heck, it isn’t every year I am dating someone period. I am going do what I do with every holiday, think about all the things I want to happen and then convince myself that none of it will. In other words, I am lowering my expectations so I don’t drive myself crazy trying to out do anyone or even myself.
When I was in high school I wanted to show the girl I was with how much I really liked her. I got my friends together, made a band, and learned “That Thing You Do,” from the movie of the same title. We set up in the auditorium, with monitors, and closed the curtain. To get people in the band I told them to invite their girlfriends to the concert of one song for one person (which ended up being about 8 girls by the time the band was together.) Not everyone in the band had a girlfriend so I told the guys to invite someone they liked because this would grease the wheels. We all wrote letters to A) tells the girls right off that we liked them and B) to get these loves to meet us at the theatre entrance. Ushers met the girls so we could be revealed when the curtain opened. In the front row were flowers for each of them. I also bought a balloon, which in the end wasn’t cared for. The great drape opened, we smiled, and I counted off, 1, 2, 3, 4. When it all over a teacher, Leland Burbank, jumped out of the seats and clapped yelling, “where’s the camera? You had to of video taped this. This was great,” and he went on. He had to have been the most excited. I can’t say the girls didn’t care. They did. My ex-girlfriend once told me that her next boyfriend didn’t do anything for her on Valentines Day and she told him, “This is ridiculous. Someone put a concert on for me before. Step it up a notch,” she laughed.
The point is none of us ended up happily ever after so why go to all the effort as side from it feels go to make someone happy. Even if they will take your heart out and throw it away later (I don’t feel like that but maybe some people do).
I’m just saying to be cool boy, real cool. It is just another holiday. In fact they also came up with Sweetest Day, so you can mess that one up too.
Good Luck. Remember we’re all in this together.

Conan O'Brien: Let the man do his thing (or NBC, Let Him Be!)

I assume by now that you've heard about the Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, NBC time-slot debacle, but if you haven't, here's a fine article on it from ABC news: (link)

I'd just like to ask a question: Why the grief, NBC? I can understand attempting to keep a personality who has a marketable (and solid) draw in a certain economic sector of the network's viewing public. That makes sense. However, Jay's previous show has such horrid ratings that it's confusing as to whether the audience that responds to him is even viewing him anymore. Or perhaps the audience is much smaller than anticipated.

That being said, Conan O'Brien has had a steady career in a time slot usually viewed by a younger crowd, many of his fans having aged with him through his career as a writer and host. He has a very dedicated audience who continue consume his output hungrily. With only seven months under his belt at the helm of the Tonight Show, his residency has only just begun and it's a shame to see it be in danger of getting cut short.

The ratings for The Tonight Show experienced a dramatic increase yesterday night (a 1.7/7 up from a 1.2 the night before (link)) as viewers flocked to television sets to support Conan and The Tonight Show franchise in an apparent effort to send a message to the network. Hopefully this message works, but it may require a shift in consistent viewing habits of a demographic that is able to have content delivered in ways that are not included in Nielsen ratings. Perhaps the section of Conan's audience that consumes it's media with less traditional means (such as delivered over the net from websites like Hulu or downloaded from bit-torrent sites) is small enough to be considered statistically negligible for now but the further development of technology and ideas about media consumption could cause problems for decisions made by NBC if based strictly on Nielsen numbers.

I'm just sayin, is all.

I personally would like to see Conan get a fair shake of the deal by being allowed to continue his tenure at The Tonight Show and build a faithful following over-the-air. And while we all may have a great amount of respect for Jay Leno, perhaps it is time for him to step aside for awhile and allow the growth of another personality that can be adored by the United State and the world.

Rock the boat, Conan. (Don't tip the boat over)

-Nate Bellon(bass)

A short aside: Here's some interesting information on how Nielsen ratings operate, as well as a decent history on the Nielsen ratings empire. (link)

-NB