I am currently in the process of building a new Web site and I am going to start using the blog on there. so the new address is www.toddmthurman.net/blog

I know what you're thinking. No, I am not going to devote an entire blog entry based on the song called "Stars of Track and Field" by the extremely highly acclaimed indy band Belle and Sebastian. What? You have never heard of them either? That, my friends, is a shame. Listen, it is not hard to find new and exciting indy bands. All you need to do is to break free of mainstream radio and listen to good music. I have not listened to mainstream radio, voluntarily, since 1994. Amazingly though, I have heard of every "band" out there as well as 234 others that no one has heard of. Here is a tip. Pick up a local paper, and go to a local club where a band is playing. It is inexpensive and you might actually like it.

There are multiple things that I look for in a band that I like. Only one HAS to be present in a band for me to like them. The characteristics that I look for are: Raw, Emotional, Powerful, Intense, Talented, Humorous, Entertaining, and Hard Working, and Rockin'. By hard working, I mean that they actuallty try to make their music sound good, instead of "phoning it in" (like U2, Green Day, Weezer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and so many other bands. Most bands I like contain probably 3 of the traits I mentioned (excpet in the case of Nirvana which posesses all the characterstics). Mainstream "bands" that are popular today contain none of those characteristics. Stars of Track and Field work hard, are emotional and entertaining. They are a little on the poppy side as they are a guilty pleasure of mine.

I first heard of the Stars of Track and Field in October of 2006 when they opened for the Twilight Singers. I had not heard of them or the Twilight Singers, but they were featuring Mark Lanegan, who is, BY FAR, the greatest living singer/sonwriter. There is no contest there. I went to the House of Blues fully prepared to pay $28 dollars to hear the 2 or 3 songs that Mark Lanegan was going to sing. But then, something amazing happened. I actually liked the Stars of Track and Field and the Twilgiht Singers and bought both of their CDs (Centuries Before Love and War - Stars of Track and Field and Powder Burns - The Twilight Singers). So when the Stars of Track and Field make it big, just remeber who was on the ground floor and told you all. ME.

Todd

On January 20th, the LA Kings bestowed upon him their highest honor and retired the number 20 of Luc Robitaille. The ceremony featured hockey and Kings greats from the past including Rogie Vachon and the Great One Wayne Gretzky. It was a great ceremony and got you really excited about the Kings.

Then the game started. LA scored two quick goals against Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes. That was the highlight for the game. Near the end of the first period, the Coyotes got one back against newly acquired goalie, Sean Burke. After the second period, Sean Burke left the game with a hand injury and Fukifuji took his place in the third period. He wasted no time in giving up two goals as the Kings lost to the Coyotes 3-2 in what should have been a great night to be a Kings fan.

With that loss, the Kings have officially become the worst team in the NHL, edging out the Flyers for that honor. So on a night where we are supposed to be proud to be a Kings fan, we sink into the depths of the NHL, not to come out this season.

After looking at my stats, I realized that I get a lot more traffic to this site than I first thought. So I am going to do what I want when I have an audience. I am going to plug music that I like. I know I do it all the time, but there are so many bands I like that no one has ever heard of and I fell like it is my duty to tell the world. Today, the focus will be Mark Lanegan.

Lanegan was a major player in the Seattle music scene and continues to ba a major player in the Independent music scene today. In the music circles, he is one of the more respected musicians and has taken part in recording dozens of records for various artists. He has worked with Queens of the Stone Age, the Walkabouts, The Twilight Singers, Isobel Campbell, Mad Season, Kurt Cobain, Iggy from GNR, he was the lead singer for the Screaming Trees, and lead the Mark Lanegan Band, as well as realeasing numerous solo albums all to tremendous critical acclaim.

Yet, not many people know who he is. This is very sad because he has a tremendous amount of talent and makes music that he likes and does not worry about commercial success. This is a rarity in music and in pop culture. His solo albums are decidely differnt from his work from the Screaming Trees, but they are an intense emotional journey.

Discography:

Screaming Trees

Solo:

• 1990 - The Winding Sheet - Sub Pop
• 1993 - Whiskey for the Holy Ghost - Sub Pop
• 1996 - Twisted Willie (Willie Nelson tribute) by Various Artists (Lanegan covers She's Not For You) - Justice Records
• 1998 - Scraps at Midnight - Sub Pop, Beggars Banquet
• 1999 - I'll take Care of You - Sub Pop, Beggars Banquet
• 2000 - Sing A Song For You (Tim Buckley tribute) by Various Artists (Lanegan covers Cafe) - Manifesto
• 2000 - Free The West Memphis Three by Various Artists (Lanegan contributes Untitled Lullabye) - Aces And Eights
• 2001 - Field Songs - Sub Pop, Beggars Banquet
• 2001 - Give the People What We Want (tribute to The Kinks) by Various Artists (Lanegan covers Nothin' In the World Can Stop Me Worryin' Bout That Girl) - Sub Pop
• 2003 - Here Comes That Weird Chill - Beggars Banquet
• 2004 - Bubblegum - Beggars Banquet