Days of Lore

The heartbreak … Did you see it? The Chico State baseball team was only a strike away from winning the NCAA Division II championship against Tampa. It was a hell of a game—solid pitching, great defense—but the Spartans came up with a big hit to tie it up in the top of the ninth inning and went on to defeat the Wildcats 3-2 in 10 innings. One strike away … it’s a tough pill to swallow, but Chico State, which went an impressive 46-21, did go toe-to-toe with a team that lost only six games all season.

… and the mistake Last week I wrote that Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth‘s all-time home-run record in 1975, when it was actually 1974. For the two baseball geeks out there who caught it, my apologies. I guess in the heat of my Barry Bonds diatribe I got a little excited and my pinky cramped up on me.

Movin’ on up I dropped by the 1078 Gallery this weekend to lend a hand (and a filthy ‘91 Ford Ranger) to the gallery’s big move to its new location at 820 Broadway, right next to Dimensions hair salon and Bustolini’s Deli. The new space is sweet to say the least—twice the size of 1078’s previous location on Fifth Street—and is shaping up to become a Blue Room-type all-ages venue.

And with our own CN&R calendar editor and local badass Jason Cassidy having recently joined the 1078 Board of Directors as part of the music committee with gallery director Carla Resnick, expect some quality shows to start happening by mid-July. More on that soon.

Check it, yo We’ve got some of our own action happening here at CN&R. We’re looking to put together a kick-ass compilation CD of local bands. Like the CAMMIES, it’s something we should have done a long time ago. Better late than never, eh? Anyway, it’s open to all bands (not just CAMMIES bands) in Butte County, of any genre, and could potentially turn into a two- or three-CD collection, depending on how many submissions we receive.

Any artists interested in being part of it should go to www.newsreview.com/camcd and download the application, then submit your best two original songs on CD. Don’t worry, we’re not going to steal your music )jeez, musicians are so protective since ol’ Lars shut down Napster a few years ago) it’s simply giving us permission to use your song for the comp. The application will also explain everything you need to send. We’ll be putting on shows throughout September to celebrate the release, and the disc will be included in the cover charge.

The deadline is June 23, so get it together, eh?

Somebody help me, please In continuing with my one-track mind, and proving once again what a moron I am, the Old 97’s are about to release a new compilation, Hit By a Train: The Best of Old 97’s, on Rhino Records. Shameless, I tell you!

And while the album, due out June 20, includes classics like “Victoria” and “Four Leaf Clover,” there are a few glaring omissions, like “Buick City Complex” and “What We Talk About.” Ah well, what are you going to do?

The band also makes a cameo in the new Vinnie Vaughn/Jenny Aniston romantic comedy The Break-Up. I’m sure the movie blows, but that one scene must be pure cinematic magic.

And to conclude with my ridiculous doting, the Old 97’s have a sweet in-studio performance of “Won’t Be Home” on Fearless Music TV out of New York. The site also features clips from The Motion City Soundtrack, The Dresden Dolls and the International Noise Conspiracy. Check it out at: www.fearlessmusic.tv.

Number of the what?! Well, “666” is officially over and no catastrophic accidents occurred (although Satan is still in the White House), and I must say I was a bit disappointed—sort of like Y2K—what a jip!

I wasn’t disappointed with the iMPS/Americas show at Duffy’s, however. My ears are still ringing and the show brought a lot of people out of the woodworks. And I did thank God when I woke up this morning that I didn’t go to the after party.

I should be a member of the Old 97’s street team—<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> </script>