Diverting Doppleganger: James Worthy vs. Lana Del Rey

Listening to: Social Distortion's "Don't Take Me For Granted"

Diverting Dopplegangers: Pubescent Jeff Tweedy & Claire Danes

Specifically Jeff Tweedy from his Uncle Tupelo days and Claire Danes from her "My So Called Life" days. Right? Right?

- Amy
Listening to: Frank Sinatra's "Bewitched"

Diverting Doppleganger: Alec Baldwin vs. Marcus Mumford

Is it just me or does the frontman of Mumford & Sons look like the bastard brother of the Baldwins? Think about it. Which also reminds me, can you believe he and Carey Mulligan are hitched? Apparently it's only been like 5 months! Not that I've been reading US Weekly or anything. (Long awkward pause.)

-Amy
Listening to: Mel Torme's "On The Street Where You Live"

Diverting Doppleganger: Doc Holiday Vs. The Wrestler

- Amy

Listening to: Belle & Sebastian's "Piazza, New York Catcher"

Diverting Doppleganger: Featuring Joe Strummer & Glasvegas

In the process of checking out Glasvegas' new album Euphoric Heartbreak, I realized that Glasvegas frontman James Allen bears a striking resemblance to one of the handsomest devils to ever walk the earth, Joe Strummer of The Clash.

Key Markers:

1. Arched eyebrows.

2. Narrow, dark eyes.

3. Cute little ball pointed nose that kind of turns up.

4. Lucious Lips.

5. Rock n' roll pomp.

6. High forehead.

7. Small chin.

8. Sweet leather jacket with pins that probably say "F* Imperialism" or something badass like that. 

I think I'm going to start a new feature to add to my current roster (Diverting Dopplegangers, Inspiration of the Day, Current Muse, and Box Doodles) called Dapper Dans. Or maybe Debonair Dreamboats. Do I have a thing for alliteration or what? It only seems right that since I have a feature dedicated to the bodacious babes of the world (Current Muse), I should have one for the gents. It would spotlight some of the most stylish fellas around according to yours truly. Joe Strummer would definitely be featured. Definitely. 

- Amy

Listening to: The Clash's "Train in Vain"

Middle Brother, Making Stone Cold Steve Austin Cry, & More Hilarious Dopplegangers

[ Fig. 1: Middle Brother. Left to Right: John McCauley, Taylor Goldsmith, and Matt Vasquez. ]

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AMY HOOD: Middle Brother at Detroit Bar

My sister and I headed up to the Detroit Bar to catch Middle Brother [fig. 1] last night. It was AWESOME. It's a supergroup of small rock/folk/indie bands. When I say supergroup, think Monsters of Folk (yay!), not Them Crooked Vultures (yawn). And like MOF, this band is made up of a plethora of amazing singers joining forces, sometimes taking the lead, other times taking turns backing each other, and at best breaking into three part gritty harmonies that would make even Stone Cold Steve Austin tear up (or at the very least make him want to join a folksy rock band).

[ Fig. 2: Johnny Corndawg. © cjfoeckler ]

Middle Brother is made up of Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes (yay!), Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit (double yay!), John McCauley of Deer Tick (Yeah 3x! [cue Chris Brown]), and on special occasion the hilarious musician/leatherworker Johnny Corndawg [fig. 2]. And I can't forget the drummer, Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes [fig. 3], who's game face rivaled any Billy Idol scowl. I like the way Rolling Stone described them as a whole: "This singer-songwriter summit... is an alt-country round robin, with raw harmonies and punk-rock sentiment as unforgiving as a prison shiv." Couldn't have said it better myself.

[ Fig. 3: Griffin Goldsmith. ©Jack Edinger ]

The album is really good. Seeing them live was even better. Which is almost always the case with a good rock n' roll band; They've got that energy, that stage presence, they love the live performance and they love the crowds. All of which seems to be very rare in pretty much all the bands today. Most of the bands I've seen recently either seem like they'd rather be surrounded by hot chicks in a hotel bar somewhere, or they are seriously lacking in talent without their production magic. 


I also discovered a new act thanks to the show (which is one of my favorite parts about going to shows). The opening act was a guy named Jonny Corndawg and not only can he sing a country/rock/rockabilly song, he is one of the fines leatherworkers you've ever seen this side of the Mississippi. I'm pretty sure every member of Middle Brother was wearing a finely crafted leather belt with his initials in it courtesy of Jonny. Last night, despite suffering from a bleeding ear and horrible amp feedback, he won the hearts and minds of the Detroit Bar masses. You can see him below featured in the song "Middle Brother." Also check out his song at the bottom or google "Trash Day." 

[ Middle Brother © Brandon Tauszik ]

[ Bickering just like loving siblings. ]

And to close this blog out with a bang:

And I've said it for years now, but how much does my dear old friend Sean Murphy look like Matt Vasquez!? I think a DNA test is in order because they may be twins seperated at birth. Don't believe me from this photo [below]? Visit Sean at Kaylani's in San Clemente and see for yourself. 

Here are some tunes for you. 

-Amy

Listening to: Middle Brother's "Wilderness" 

My Grandmother's Guide To Getting The Fellas, Bauhaus Dopplegangers, & What I've Been Wearing

I saw a terrible preview for the movie Yogi Bear recently. All I took away from it was that Tom Cavanagh looks like the lead singer of Bauhaus. Am I right or am I right?

Press week is here again. Guhhhhhhh. Following are some shots from my friend/co-worker Blythe and I's many back alley photo shoots here at work. I love seeing what other people are wearing, so here's what I've been wearing. My granny would be proud. She firmly believes in dressing up. It's a part of her rules to nabbing the fellas which are as follows:

GRANDMA JOST'S GUIDE TO GETTING THE FELLAS

1. You must be able to cook.

2. You must be able to make a quilt.

3. You must wear heels, dresses and lipstick. Skirts are also acceptable. Pants are rarely acceptable. Heels and lipstick are non-negotiable.

Number 3 is the best, because when I say that heels and lipstick are non-negotiable to her, I mean it. This woman wears wedges while gardening! They're only 1 1/2 inchs max, mind you, but still! It is for this reason that she is 67 and has three boyfriends. Now that I think about it, she's been telling us she's 67 for about 7 years. Either way, she only looks 64. One of her gentlemen suitors is only 55! When she tells us about them she has them neatly compartmentalized by purpose: Bob can dance (she goes dancing every Friday night), but Jesse has money, and John helps her around the farm (she owns a farm and a big beautiful farm house in Bowling Green, KY). 

I'd like to take a moment to clarify that my grandma is by no means "loose." All the fellas are aware of her wish not to settle down this late in life, and I'm pretty sure it makes them even more wild about her. It's that whole "I can't have it so I want it more" thing. No one plays hard to get like this woman. One of the gentlemen bought her tickets to the Kentucky Derby and a hotel suite to stay in. When she was telling my sister and I about it she said, "girls, he didn't even see the inside of the room."And it's all thanks to her 3 rules. Especially rule 3. Which brings me to my recent outfits. I'll probably never reach the level of foxiness of my grandmother because I don't have the discipline, but I try to abide by at least one of the three rules at all times. "Che-Ch-Che-Ch-Check It Out."

- Amy

Listening to: Sam Cooke's "Nothin' Can Change This Love"

[ I love this hat. It's definitely Kentucky Derby worthy. ]

[ Oops... no heels. But they're silver gladiators. That's gotta count for something. ]

[ Grandmother would not approve of this outfit at all. But hey - sometimes rules are for breakin'. ]

And Now It's Time For Another Diverting Doppleganger

Man I'm good at finding random dopplegangers! Billy Idol and Hayden Christensen. So sacrilegious but so true. Hope you guys enjoy this new blog featurette. I think we'll share a lot of laughs here.

- Amy

Listening to: Wu-Tang Clan's "Reunited"

Renaissance Man Scott Avett

INSPIRATION OF THE DAY: Scott Avett

What's inspiring me right now besides Pink Floyd? Scott Avett. Yes, the very namesake of alt/country/rock band The Avett Brothers. If you've never heard of these country bumpkins, watch their video for "I And Love And You" here. I have to forewarn you that it took me a little while to fully grasp and understand the glory that is The Avett Brothers. If this happens to you, don't panic. Just open your mind and free your thoughts and give it a couple more listens. What I first thought was slow and lacking in feeling, I realized now was just the opposite. [If this were a Disney movie, this would be a prime place for a lesson on not being to quick to judge.] I've been listening to this CD more than any other album all year [although Glasvegas's self titled is a very close second.] My favorite tracks are the song below, "Laundry Room" "Kick Drum Heart" [another great phrase for a tattoo, don't you think?], "Perfect Space," and "Head Full of Doubt." Once you get hooked on these, go buy I And Love And You. It's their most accessible album across the board in my oh-so-humble opinion. I love their older albums, but if you don't like country or folk then you probably won't like them. 

Well, did you know that aside from being a top notch musician and multi-instrumentalist, Scott Avett is a fine artist? And I bet you've seen his work too. It was on display at every Starbucks last year. Yep, gracing the cover of The Avett Brother's album I And Love And You sitting on the counter in front of you as you ordered your crazy foo foo drink.

 [Ring a bell now?]

I really like his style. He does a lot of portraits and I just love the way he uses color. You can see the full spectrum of color in his skintones: pinks, blues, purples, greens, yellows. His paintings mix portraiture with these surrealist backgrounds. They also feel a lot like modern day versions of the old religious narrative paintings. It's really interesting. Musician, artist, stud - what a dreamboat.

[The Fighter]

[The Underdog]

[Adam]

 

[A woodcut by Scott portraying The Avett Brothers.]

 [More amazing woodcuts by Scott. These were used as tour posters 
for The Avett Brothers.]

Every time I see him I freak out because he looks so much like my friend dear old friend from Nashville Danny Nicolleto [who also happens to be a top notch musician]. Isn't it uncanny? I have this theory that everyone has a famous twin. I'm also really good and figuring people's out. It's a gift. Give me any person and I'll find their doppleganger, guaranteed or your money back!

[Danny Nicoletto vs. Scott Avett]

Enjoy your Sunday Funday!


Amy
Listening to: Avett Brothers' "Murder In The City"

Def Leppard, David Bowie and Dopplegangers

I am intrigued by dopplegangers (That means people who have a look-a-like, famous or otherwise. Geez, get your mind out of the gutter.) Maybe it's because I'm a twin, maybe it's because I read too much US Weekly and People Magazine, but either way the other day I saw one that almost made me fall out of my chair I was laughing so hard. Yep, the amazing yet terrifying one featured above in Fig. 1: Tilda Swinton and David Bowie.

My twin sister Jen is a contributing writer for a blog called TheSkrilla.com, and she has a feature called The Lineup that features a new list every Friday of great pop culture info. This week, stumped for a topic to blog on, she sought me out for inspiration/ideas. Having just discovered that Tilda and Ziggy were long-lost twins seperated at birth apparently, I suggested a list of hilarious celebrity dopplegangers [see Fig. 2]. The end result is here. Enjoy!

- Amy

On my iPod: Def Leppard's "Rock of Ages"

Watch the sweet video for it here and notice how much it resembles Spinal Tap. Interviewed Phil Collen, Def Leppard's guitarist, today and he even verified that the similarities were uncanny. Steve Clark even has the profile of Nigel Tuffnel now that I look at it. Wierd.