make real friends that share my interests

I’ve been totally amazed by the generosity and kindness of total strangers on the internet. Back when I started using it in the early to mid-90’s, I used to subscribe to a few email lists. One of the first for me was the Chalkhills Digest for XTC fans. From just a few postings, I acquired about 7 different cassettes of Andy Partridge’s demos, which have been recently released in the UK as Fuzzy Warbles volumes 1 to 6. Also, I have 3 video tapes of XTC live and video performances.

In 1998, I started communicating with my oldest internet friend, Barry Christian, through the Dubstar mailing list. It began through the exchange of Dubstar’s first album Disgraceful for Angelfish’s album (and single). We met in Sheffield in 2002 when I went to England, but he passed away at the end of 2003. It was really devastating to read it in an email from his daughter. In the time we knew each other, we exchanged numerous emails, many CD’s, tapes, videos, and LP’s. He was an irreplaceable friend who I will never forget.

Recently, I’ve discovered the joys of community through Xanga, MySpace, etc. It’s great to see dedicated music fans of all ages who really know and understand some of the music that is most important to me. Of course, I’d love to meet people in person with my interests, but I think it’s just a matter of time.

Music is definitely my passion, particularly indie and britpop. It seems like San Francisco is a great place for those kinds of music since they have an excellent club called Popscene and great bands playing here every night at places like Cafe du Nord, Bottom of the Hill, the Fillmore, Great American Music Hall, Slim’s, The Independent, etc. I’ve been to all those venues within the last few months and it’s been great. I’ve been going with my brother, who likes the music but usually doesn’t enjoy going to concerts. I’m not sure why, we’ve seen tons of great bands (Pretty Girls Make Graves, British Sea Power, Monade, Thievery Corporation, Architecture in Helsinki, Of Montreal, Tilly and the Wall) just this year alone. And here’s my list of upcoming shows that I’m interested in and hoping to go to:

7/19: The Secret Machines, Kings of Leon @ the Fillmore
7/15: The Brian Jonestown Massacre @ BotH, $10
7/8: Fri. Pop Crush Festival: My Favorite, Voxtrot, Unreal Scarlet’s Well, Lil’ Hospital – 8 pm, $12 @ Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell St.
7/2: Sat. Scout Niblett, Afri Rampo 12 Galaxies, 2565 Mission Street 22nd
6/24: Fri. Mountain Goats, The Double; Sarah Dougher @ BotH
6/22: Wed. Dressy Bessy, Giant Value, The Jessica Fletchers @ BotH, $8
6/20: Embrace, Long-View, Augustana @ the Independent, 8 PM, $12
6/18: The Futureheads, High Speed Scene, Every Move a Picture @ the Fillmore $18.50 (expensive but I still want to go!)
6/17: The Go-Betweens, The Court and Spark @ Slim’s, $17
6/16: Thu. Electrelane, Deerhoof, Lavender Diamond @ GAMH, 859 O’Farrell Street (Polk)
6/15: Wed. Stephen Malkmus, Martha Wainwright @ the Fillmore
6/12: Eisley, Lovedrug, (dot), Pilotdrift @ Slim’s, 333 11th St, $15
6/10: Fri. The National, Menomena @ Cafe du Nord
6/9: Thu. Kasabian, Mad Action @ Popscene, 330 Ritch, FREE!
6/8: Wed. Caesars, Amusement Parks On Fire, The Plus Ones @ BotH, $10
6/7: Tues. Athlete @ Cafe du Nord, $10-$12