...check out this comedian!

I'm sure everyone of us knows that one person, be it a co-worker, significant other, or friend, that is a total laugh out loud riot. Sometimes they can be a little obnoxious or get out of control, but that's really the beauty of it all. They can calm us down after a bad day, liven any party...basically make our lives that much more interesting. 

For some reason or another, there are people out there that actually get paid to do this everyday...and man, are there are a lot of them. Not only are comedians great in number, but they also very greatly in their material. Some rely on sight gags, others on creative observation, and others still that merely spew profanity and sexual references to shock laughs out of an audience.

And then there's Brian Regan.

Brian Regan, a man whose facial expressions and absurd body language alone could bring an audience to tears. A man who apparently pays close attention to every little thing that happens in the world and turns it on it's head. A man whose every word becomes instantly stuck in your head, leaving you quoting him long after. And maybe most importantly, a man who does not rely on course language or graphic topics to garner laughs from an audience.

Having seen several stand up acts in my life, I can tell you that Brian Regan is far and away the best comedian alive. He nails every joke, improvises impressively off of crowd shouts during his act, and provides such an amazing energy that only seems to increase as the show progresses. Seeing him live was one of the greatest experiences of my life. 

You can see in this clip, he takes pretty standard stand up material, things that happen in an airport, and really injects it with new life. The different voices he uses, the sound effects, his body language; everything he does really gets the most out of each joke. I'd like to see any other comedian deliver jokes this way and be as successful.

Brian has two live CD's out and three live DVD's, and each is really an absolute must to own. To single one out is tough, but his first CD, "Brian Regan Live," really is full of his most well-known jokes and catch phrases. At the very least pick that up, I'm sure you'll be too hooked not to at least check out his other work.

Download the album here from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Regan-Live/dp/B000QZSYQ6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1301370444&sr=8-2

...check out this restaurant!

If you've driven to the Oregon Coast out of Downtown Salem, then chances are, you've passed by this place without even giving it a second glance. Fair enough, it is quite a small building, just like any of the other quaint shops and houses you pass during that drive. However, the establishment's size and condition greatly betrays what lies within. That is, you'll be missing out on some of the best food and service that you'll find anywhere near the coast if you pass it by.

Otis Cafe is a cute little restaurant that sits a few miles out of Lincoln City. I myself was slightly hesitant to go in, as this building has, indeed, seen better days. You walk through a simple screen door that you must close behind you, and then the Cafe's entire four booths, one table, and a short counter with a handful of stools open up to you. Finding a seat generally is not a problem, and once seated, you find yourself furnished with menu's and water provided by the one and only waitress that's on the clock. The menu is pretty extensive, considering the size of the place, with about four full pages of options, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and deserts. I've only managed to come around to the Cafe for breakfast, but how great that breakfast is. Everything is homemade and tastes wonderful. I generally favor the buttermilk pancakes, which are the best tasting (and probably largest) I've ever had. I've tried the ham and cheese omlete as well, and it's amazing as well. If you can manage to at least look up from your food, which is indeed difficult, you'll notice the attentive waitress making sure you're doing alright. You get all this great food and wonderful service at a very reasonable price as well, so make sure you leave a nice tip. ...She did have to watch you scarf down that food like a pig afterall, right? I think that merits a nice tip.

Once you've eaten and are walking out that door, you'll look back and see a completely different picture. That's really how it was for me. I came into the restaurant thinking it was a complete waste of my time to even stop here, and yet, I've just experienced one of the greatest meals that I've ever had. Otis Cafe didn't just feed me, it taught me a life lesson: Never judge a book by it's cover. Show me another restaurant that can do that!

So next time you think about passing by this hole-in-the-wall for the Denny's a few miles down the road, don't. Trust me, you'll be happy you didn't.


Just a cool fact to add about this place: each table has a small book with blank pages that you are allowed to write in. Looking through them, you can see entries by people from different states, countries, continents, and generations! It's extremely interesting, and just one more reason you should stop in.

...check out this website!

If you are a fan of comedy and can take a little insensitivity / sometimes profuse usage of foul language, I have a great website for you to check out. The Oatmeal.

This is by far the most hilarious website I have ever visited. The guy behind it all, Matthew Inman, creates different comics that cover topics as simple as, "How to pet a kitty" (not as simple as it sounds), to things as absurd as, "5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth." I've read most everything he's done, and I can honestly say I've laughed at every single piece of work he's done.

And it's not that it's all juvenile or low-brow humor that uses sight gags and things like that to get laughs, although that does happen from time to time; he actually goes through important and insightful topics as well, such as, "How to Use a Semicolon," and, "15 Things Worth Knowing About Coffee."

It's a great site and I highly recommend you check it out. I'm usually rolling just looking at the thumbnails you click on to actually get into the comic itself.

Check it out at http://theoatmeal.com/!

...check out this band!

Explosions in the Sky.

What kind of images come to mind when your eyes skim those words? Maybe you see a dark July sky, filled with loud noises, colors, and light. Maybe the thought of a star going supernova, combusting and devastating all things around it in the darkness of space. Or maybe it's as simple as a calm afternoon as the sun fades beyond clouds or mountain ranges in the distance, majestically setting the horizon aflame with color.

Now imagine all those things combined. Imagine all of those raw images, scenes, and events being converted to music. That only begins to explain the band, Explosions in the Sky.

A post-rock group from Texas, Explosions in the Sky forgoes vocals and engages the listener instead with very emotional and engaging instrumentals. Mostly comprised of simply three guitars and a set of drums, these boys from Texas seem to tell entire stories without using a single word.

One of my favorite tracks by these guys is a song called, "So Long, Lonesome," off their 2007 album, "All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone." For me personally, it's a really introspective song. It clears my mind, encourages me, and makes me feel like a more confident person as it winds down. Starting off slow with a gently jangling guitar, contrasted by a calm accompanying piano arrangement, it quietly yet majestically builds towards an ending filled with emphatic drums before fading out.

In the course of this beautiful eight minute track, "Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean," from their 2003 album, "The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place," I feel like I am actually living out what the title suggests. Slight ambient, echoing guitar parts, paired in places with powerful guitar and drums throughout the piece, again, give it wonderful emotional range and the feeling of drifting beneath the waves of the mighty ocean.

Some bands are heavily touted for their deep lyrics. Some bands are praised for their profound insights on life, politics, love, and everything in between. Explosions in the Sky should be credited with all these things, only with one main difference.

The entire band is a single voice. Their instruments, not their mouths, tell the stories. In a time of recycled beats, auto-tuned lyrics, and sell-outs, Explosions in the Sky is certainly a breath of fresh air. One that I suggest you take.

"Look into the Air," from the 2000 album, "How Strange, Innocence."

...check out this band!

Cursive.

You're lookin' at me like, "Umm, I believe you are mistaken. That's a writing style, not a band."

Ok, point taken. Why don't you re-tape your glasses real quick while I learn you a bit of musical knowledge, Poindexter?

First of all, Cursive IS, in fact, the name of a band. A band that just happens to be one of my personal favorites right now. If you've never heard of them, that's completely understandable...they're a small band out of Omaha, Nebraska that are signed under Saddle Creek Records. They've been doing their thing for a while now, having first hit the scene in 1995, and in that time have produced six studio albums. The band has gone through a lot of member changes, but the one name you'll want to know is that of the lead singer and guitarist, Tim Kasher.

Is that just because he's the frontman? Just because he's the voice and the face of the band? Not quite, really it's because...

Tim Kasher is the greatest lyricist I've ever heard.

Period.

Literally, you could take any song from Cursive's albums, and in each song be blown away by the context of the lyrics. I've listened to a great majority of their songs for several months now, and some of the choruses, bridges, and verses I hear still amaze me. He covers an insane amount of topics as well. From the more standard topic of religion, politics, and love, to things like fairy tales, works of art, and pop culture.

Here's an example of that at work. A simple, yet sad, examination of the fairy tale: Pinocchio. The song?
"Driftwood (A Fairy Tale)" from the album, "The Ugly Organist."

And it might not even be the verses themselves. Add on top of that the immense amount of emotion Tim puts into every vocal on every track...it's just unbelievable.

"From the Hips," from the album, "Mama, I'm Swollen."

Not only that, but the insane variety their albums cover is almost as impressive. Rock, jazz, pop, ballads, emo, grunge, and even classical, it really never ends. In fact, some of their songs have full horn or violin sections, which really add crazy emotional emphasis to some of the songs. Not only that, but the members of the band behind Tim seem to perfectly compliment him. Every song rocks to it's own beat, every song is so beautifully constructed, and it's a nicely even emphasis on every single instrument, which I feel many bands certainly lack.

I could rant at some length about all the things I like about Cursive, but I'd much rather you learn the rest on your own. Their depth, their musical talent, their lyrics, their emotion...it all comes together within this one band.

We have been given a gift in the band Cursive. I'm just glad I am able to share it.

Just take it in...
"Staying Alive," from the album, "The Ugly Organist."