Crib Notes

Casper & the Cookies: Jason NeSmith (second from right).

For today’s episode of Roll Call we call out Jason NeSmith (A.K.A. Casper Fandango) frontman for Casper & the Cookies.

Who are you?
Jason NeSmith of Casper & the Cookies.

Describe yourself in three words.
filibuster
cloudy
hypno-toad

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Ron Geesin. He plays ragtime improvisational piano, performs home studio experiments, writes for ensembles in a variety of styles, gives lectures, and creates art installations designed to help people with autism. He’s a common sense lunatic.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
I would like to slap California in the face for voting ‘yes’ on Proposition 8.

What song do you wish you had written?
“(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding?” Not only is it a fantastic, multi-layered song, but I would be a millionaire!

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
It’s hard to imagine a history of popular music without Elvis Presley. Let’s find out.

LP, CD or MP3?
MP3 Monday through Friday, LP on the weekend (a.k.a. the media mullet).

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
It would be great if I could snap my fingers and cause car manufacturers to be passionate about discovering a practical alternative energy. Barring that, I’d like to see the return of natural Licorice and the corresponding demise of Green Apple Flavor.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
I think fewer bands should write their own songs. It’s time for a new Brill Building.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Dude, I’m happily married. But the answer is the woman on the cover of Whipped Cream and Other Delights. That would be a lifelong dream fulfilled.

Casper & the Cookies forthcoming album, Sound of Silence is due for release in 2009.

“You Love Me” MP3

(Photo by Courtnie Wolfgang)

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Spoiler alert!

Today the list of “greatest sing-along songs” compiled by Josh Rifkind and the folks at The Songs For Kids Foundation, to be performed at this year’s 500 Songs for Kids song marathon was unveiled to the public.

The show starts tonight, Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. at Smith’s Olde Bar, and runs through Saturday, May 10. Admission is $10.

If you want to be surprised by which songs made the list, stop reading now.

The Foundation for Kids’ 500 greatest sing-along song list

500 THE TIDE IS HIGH BLONDIE

499 IT’S YOUR THING THE ISLEY BROTHERS

498 REFUGEE TOM PETTY

497 GET UP, STAND UP BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS

496 DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME THE POLICE

495 RAMBLIN’ MAN THE ALLMAN BROTHERS

(more…)

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FACTORY DIRECT: Mick Jones and Tony James of Carbon/Silicon (photo courtesy of Carbon/Silicon)

Punk rock icon Mick Jones and Carbon/Silicon band mate Tony James will be at Criminal Records on Monday, Apr. 14 at 6 – 7 p.m. signing copies of their new record, The Last Post, before they perform at The Loft later in the evening.

Jones is former lead guitarist of the Clash and Big Audio Dynamite, while James was a member of the Sisters of Mercy, Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik. Described as “the Rolling Stones jamming with a laptop,” Carbon/Silicon reunites Jones and James, who have been close friends since the mid-’70s when they were briefly in a band together called, London SS (which also featured Clash bassist Paul Simonon).

Rolling Stone magazine called Jones, along with the late Clash front man, Joe Strummer, the third greatest songwriting duo ever, after John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles and Mick Jagger and Richards of the Rolling Stones.

Jones was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 as a member of the Clash.

Criminal Records is located at 466 Moreland Ave. in Little Five Points. For more information, visit www.criminal.com or call 404-215-9511.

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