i'm home now. i spent five days in chicago. i had a wonderful time, and i was kinda depressed about having to come home. the fact that i have to continue my everyday boring life, grinding myself down inch by inch…it's not appealing.

but i got matt lots of presents. and i bought two signed william gibson first editions (for under $10 apiece!). we hit all the record stores and that mammoth fucking borders that they have downtown. i hit a couple of good comic shops and an awesome used book store. all in all it was a damn good trip.

and that show. that was one really fucking good show. faraquet opened up the show by playing a great blend of the older stuff and the new album. they threw in a new track, as well. and man, did they fuckin' rock. they were described by a friend as "the van halen of math rock." a fitting description, indeed. hey mercedes rocked out a good set, playing three new songs, including "everybody's working for the weak." a solid set.

and rocket from the crypt came out and blew my head off. i've never seen them live, and now i know what i've been missing. they played all the greats, including a fucking blistering version of "on a rope." i was completely stupefied. my throat is hurting again just thinking of how matty (from chicago. not the matt you all know and love) and i were screaming along.

and then we were supposed to meet bob at the flat top grill for dinner, but he decided to go to a different one, foresaking us for the evening. but all is forgiven (for now) because that place is fucking great. all you can eat, create your own stir fry. you come up with the ingredients…they cook it up for you. totally insane. i got to hang with nick and his crew, so that was a blast. that nick is a supercool kid. i was glad i got to meet him.

did you miss me?