Essays, Interviews, Observations, Pop Culture, Stories, and other Dodginess

The Depeche Mode Facebook Covers

Posted on August 14, 2013

Chicago reclusive author Clive Javanski was having custom book shelves installed in his new apartment and our friend Aidan came to help. Clive is still in Bucktown, but now he lives near Lottie’s Pub. It’s where the three of us went on a recent Monday to enjoy few lunchtime pints (Dos Equis on tap) and the taco special .  Aidan, who doesn’t live far but drove to Clive’s in order to bring work supplies and wood of some sort, bitched about the  “no parking” signs plastered around Lottie’s before he figured out they were for a different day and time. It turns out they were posted because the TV show Chicago Fire films scenes at Lottie’s, something I’d forgotten about if I knew it at all (I haven’t seen the show – I was a fan of the now cancelled Chicago Code, however).

The bartender was a cute Ukrainian girl and the background music was stupid good. It felt like they stole my iPod. We heard The Neighbourhood (“Afraid” – an incredibly darkly fantastic song), Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Manchester Orchestra, Grouplove (together in one song even), and some Mowgli’s – just to name a few.

We got to talking about music and Aidan brought up one of his favorite bands, Depeche Mode, who will be playing in Chicago Aug. 24.

“Someday they will announce auditions for young actors to play the band in what will be the best music biopic ever,” Aidan said. “Theirs is a fantastic story.”

Aidan is still upset that Depeche Mode has never been on the cover of Rolling Stone but Blind Melon has. Shit on that. Among other little DM tidbits Aidan discussed, was that there are lyrics in the song Shake The Disease (one of the best song titles ever), that reference an earlier song, Stories of Old.

Anyway, in anticipation of the DM concert, Aidan has been posting customized Facebook covers featuring the band. None include the actual band members or the band name. They are simply images like edited album covers or something else band/album/song related (Depeche Mode has a lot of interesting imagery and symbols). Some of the images he found online and edited, or added lyrics or song titles referencing the band. Each one includes the date of the Chicago concert. Click for original size in new window.

Depeche Mode The Dodgy

Depeche Mode Chicago Aug. 24

Depeche Mode The Dodgy

Depeche Mode Playing the Angel

Depeche Mode Tour Aug. 24 Chicago

Depeche Mode on The Dodgy

Strangelove Music for the Masses The Dodgy

Depeche Mode Heaven on thedodgy.com

A Broken Frame at www.thedodgy.com

Depeche Mode Some Great Reward cover art

My First Day as Head of HBO

Posted on August 1, 2013

“We’re gonna HBO that shit”

10:35 a.m. I call Lena Dunham to discuss season 3 of Girls and declare ban of Vince Vaughn movies.
10:55 a.m. I call the producers (Mark Wahlberg) of How To Make It In America and tell them that if they can, to go ahead and make a third season to close out the canceled series. I think running back-t0-back with Girls sounds about right.
11: 05 a.m. For some reason, Lana Del Rey is in the hallway and as she walks by, gives me the finger.
11:30 a.m. I also call Bored To Death creator Jonathan Ames and discuss a 1-hour movie version of that show.
12:10 p.m. There’s a message from Treme creator David Simon regarding the final (shortened) season that’s currently in production. I plan to tell him to add five more episodes for a total of 10.
12:45 p.m. On my laptop I catch up on season 2 of Showtime’s Homeland and pine for an ex-girlfriend of mine who is a Hispanic version of Claire Danes.
1 p.m. Lunch. I down a Black Salmon sandwich and pint of Guinness at nearby pub. A person next to me asks the bartender if his hands will smell after he leaves.
2 p.m. There’s a message from someone representing Flying Wild’s Ariel Tweto.
2: 30 p.m. I consider rejecting an idea for a new series called Clown Farm.
2:45 p.m. Attend a meeting about a possible Batman series.
3:30 p.m. Two biopics considered: one on Depeche Mode and another on the rise of Seattle’s grunge music scene.
4:10 p.m. Sarah Michelle Gellar stops by with Josh Whedon. We discuss my idea to resurrect a famous character for a new show called Buffy. She’s a bit older, it’s darker and not too campy. You know, we’re gonna HBO that shit.
4:43 p.m. A couple writers come in and talk about a possible dramedy that is entirely filmed in Ireland.
5:17 p.m. David Lynch calls. Something about a new Twin Peaks miniseries.
6 p.m. Check out a script called Friends in Time. Sad, romantic, time-traveley tale about a group of high school/college age friends. There is a twist in the filming of this.
6: 30 p.m. Play darts in my office with Steve Buscemi.
7: p.m. I find a rolled up poster of Carnivale under my desk.

Deranged Vaginas

Posted on July 26, 2013
Pussy Riot HBO DOC

Pussy Riot (HBO)

Who knew the Russian Orthodox Church could be such an asshole?

Following the arrest of three members of the feminist punk group Pussy Riot, one of the church’s patriarchs referred to them as “Deranged Vaginas.”

I’ve followed the story of Pussy Riot since the arrest following their “Punk Prayer” inside a Moscow cathedral in March of 2012. Three were arrested – Nadia, Masha, and Katia.

Nadia and Masha remain imprisoned to complete their two-year sentence in a penal colony (!), having recently lost their chance at parole. Katia has since been released.

I just watched the HBO documentary, Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer. There’s a lot of interesting verbiage in it. In addition to the “deranged vaginas” comment, members of the church’s Carriers of the Cross – who look like a washed-up shitty classic rock cover band – called Nadia “a demon with a brain.”

“There have always been witches who wouldn’t repent,” says one asshole carrier.

My favorite was an old woman who said Pussy Riot “took a shit in the heart of Russia.”

Then there was the Russian talk show host who asked if the performance by the young ladies “was an act of war.”

Pussy Riot - Masha, Katia, Nadia

Masha, Katia, Nadia (Guardian UK)

Pussy Riot, I’m a fan. I’m a fan of Nadia, who believes women should be allowed to run services and stand at the altar. Another great moment in the documentary is when Nadia’s (really cool) husband greets her in the court room for the first appeal process. “You look good,” he tells her. “I always look good,” she replies.

I’m a fan of Nadia’s “No Pasaran” (They Shall Not Pass) T-shirt . I want one.

I’m a fan of Nadia’s father, who supports her and helped write some of the band’s lyrics. “He’s the best,” Nadia says of her father. “I am who I am because of him.”

I’m a fan of Masha, and how she frustrated the judge with her “I don’t understand the charges” barrage. “Unjust” was her favorite word as a child, her mother says.

“We are jokers, jesters, holy fools” – Nadia

I’m a fan of Katia, and wonder what she was constantly writing or drawing in the courtroom cell. I’m a fan of the “Pussy Riot Secret Headquarters” where the remaining band members hang out. I’m a fan of the Pussy Riot look – those striking balaclavas, the colored tights and dresses. It’s a great look. They’re all beautiful women, inside and out.

I’m not a fan of the prosecution witnesses, who during testimony believe that having church goers “needing to be calmed down” following the Pussy Riot staging as merit for a two-year prison sentence. I’m not a fan of those calling Masha’s mother and telling her they’ll rip the limbs of Masha’s child if she’s not imprisoned.

I agree with one of Riot’s lawyers, who said such destabilization of the public’s mood “only increases the protest movement.”

There’s only one good riot. And that’s Pussy Riot.

Nadia during July parole hearing (Alexander Roslakov)

Nadia during July parole hearing (Alexander Roslyakov)

HBO documentary Pussy Riot A Punk Prayer