Something in the Night

I’m gonna go ahead and declare this National Mike Sweeney Week. He’s pulling double duty, sitting in at Our Band Could Be Your Lit and breaking in our Brilliant Disguise feature.

I look down the avenue to where the Palace used to stand, the one beyond which hemi-powered drones once famously screamed. I had my first date there. We played skee ball. Her name was even Wendy.

Now, Mike will be the first to tell you “Something in the Night” wasn’t 100% inspired by a single Springsteen lyric. But it’s rife with quotes and allusions to Jersey’s favorite son so we’re gonna take it. And, given this story about the Boss dropping in unannounced during a recent Asbury Show, it may very well hold some sway over the man himself. I know I wouldn’t doubt it. Sweeney’s just that good.

P.S. You should really send Ryan Werner a suggestion for OBCBYL while you’re in this musical state of mind. He’d love to hear from you.

Perhaps I will!

The always lovely and magnanimous folks at Fandomania went for the hat trick and reviewed Perhaps., by Stephen Schwegler!

If I had to use one word to describe this book, it would be “quirky.” Schwegler has sought to use the world around us and give it a slant. With appearances by intelligent squirrels, talking food, and even Jesus, the range of story subjects will make you look at reality in a new way.

I found it a relaxing way to end my day, as I gave my mind time to decompress and realize that the world around us is indeed full of things that just don’t make a lot of sense. But we push on and persevere.

You can find the whole review here. It’s also worth nothing that the reviewer, Kimberly Lynn Workman, is a certified genius. So, you know, you should listen to her.

Snowpocalypse Redux

Outside, snowflakes the size of footballs fall. They pile up quickly. At least four feet has fallen already and the dark, cloudy, billowing skies show no signs of respite. Eddie, the cart boy, tells us he spotted some polar bears in the parking lot. They were making love to SUVs. The radio reports that an emergency meeting of the House of Representatives to discuss possible evacuation procedures had quickly devolved into a massive orgy/battle royale. The vote is split evenly along party lines. There is no help coming.

Well, it snowed again. And if you live on the East Coast — or probably anywhere, I’m guessing — you know what that means. Gross exaggeration on the part of the media and even grosser overreaction by everyone else. It’s just snow, people. It happens every year.

Still, a snow day is a snow day, and no one is complaining about that. So in the spirit of sleeping in and not being productive at all, let’s all take another look at Danger_Slater’s “Snowpocalypse.” It’s guaranteed to make you even less inclined to go outside today.