My name is Terry and this is my blog.

I am currently living in Los Angeles.

I like films, music, and don't even get me started on long walks on the beach.

I don't read a lot of books, but am always fishing for book recommendations.

My parents are Vietnamese and I was born in America.

That's all you really need to know upfront.

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Wednesday, June 20th

Recent Show - Ben Gibbard - Royce Hall UCLA - 5.17.07 . . .

music: The Cutter - Echo and the Bunnymen
mood: (odd that you would call as I was typing this)

. . .and by recent I mean a month ago. I've been hesitant to post anything about the recent shows I've been to (Arcade Fire, Jesus and Mary Chain, Voxtrot, Senor Gibbard) simply because I always find it difficult to write about music and feel I would be doing the experience an injustice by putting it into writing.

But the Gibbard show, for many reasons that I will not get into, was a very special affair. A last minute invite for seats that were two rows from the stage. We missed the opening acts - Jonathan Rice and David Bazan - and I regretted it later when I found out that Bazan did a cover of Radiohead's "Let Down" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and Jenny Lewis joined Jonathan on stage for a song during his set (don't know which one). Considering the ticket was free and I did not make a big deal of seeing the opening acts when we arranged the carpooling, I did not go kicking myself over it.

Well, Ben brought his A-game that night, went through all the hits and even brought out Jenny Lewis (OMG) for his encore presentation of "Nothing Better". For the very last sing Gibbard invited onto the stage Jonathan Rice, Jimmy Tamborello and David Bazan for Such Great Heights, which Jenny sang along, too.

The notable songs of the night for me were "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" and "A Lack of Color," a song for which I always hear the lyrics "to call at 703" as "to call a 703" because it's a Northern Virginia Area code that a former lovely of mine used to hold.

The ultimate highlight was his cover of Squeeze's "Up the Junction." The song's simple narrative of unexpected romance, dashed hopes and failed love was so perfect for the situation I found myself in that night that I put my hand over my mouth.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a recording of the song that night, but here's a recording of the song from his Seattle show, courtesy of Uberdrivel.

(beggin's not my business)

Ben Gibbard - Up the Junction (live Seattle)

Another review with complete set list

terry on 06.20.07 @ 05:38 PM PDT [link]


Tuesday, June 19th

This is the Reason Why I Stopped Eating Pot Brownies




. . and the time in Joshua Tree when I thought a coyote was going to eat me.

terry on 06.19.07 @ 07:17 PM PDT [link]

Dear Mr. Barack Obama,

music: do or die, you'll never make me

Dear Barack Obama,

Earlier today I was doing research on democratic presidential candidates and noticed that you have yet to choose a campaign song. I am writing to advise you that choosing a good campaign song is a much bigger factor than you would expect - case in point - as much as I like Hilary Clinton I cannot vote for her based on her crap choice of songs that she has allowed her base to choose for her (Smash Mouth, seriously?).

I will make it easy for you and tell you that your song should be My Chemical Romance's "Welcome to the Black Parade." Here are the obvious reasons:

1) The song is truly uplifting and inspirational. Kinda like "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" (Bill Clinton) and "Don't Worry Be Happy" (George HW Bush). Both of those dudes won, BTW.

2) Welcome to the Black Parade. You cannot be subtle about these kinds of things.

3) My Chemical Romance is from New Jersey. There's really no other way to win New Jersey unless Bruce Sprinsteen is your running mate and you plan on putting Jon Bon Jovi in your cabinet.

4) "Sometimes I get the feeling, she's watching over me" Um, that is soo Hilary. Imagine how awesome your campaign video would be cut to this jam.

5) Check out these lyrics too -

When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
He said,"Son when you grow up,
will you be the saviour of the broken,
The beaten and the damned?"
He said "Will you defeat them,
your demons, and all the non believers,
the plans that they have made?"
Because one day I'll leave you,
A phantom to lead you in the summer,
To join the black parade."

This very much in line with your image of growing as a poor black under-priveleged kid in the ghetto of Chicago, right? Well, I'm sure you've at least seen a marching band? (help me out here).

6) You need the over 18 EMO vote.

Mr. Barack Obama, thank you for your time. I know you don't read my blog, so I plan on posting a comment about this on your myspace page. Check it later today, playa.

Terry Huynh, registered Libertarian, CA.


terry on 06.19.07 @ 02:01 PM PDT [link]


Monday, June 18th

Teenage Michel Gondry Covers "Knife"

music: I want you to know oh oh oh

Wow - check out this clip of a young Michel Gondry covering one of my favorite songs of last year -



SIKE! It's just Zac Condon of Beirut covering Grizzly Bear's "The Knife" La Blogotheque-style (via stereogum). Seriously, I nominate Zac Condon to play Young Gondry in what would make an awesome televison series like Young Indiana Jones or Young Hercules.

BTW - if you liked what you saw above, you need to check this out.

In other news I will be seeing Grizzly Bear in a few weeks with Feist. Should be off the hook.

terry on 06.18.07 @ 06:44 PM PDT [link]


Tuesday, June 12th

My Blueberry Nights - Trailers

music: turned deep to dust

This site has posted 3 trailers for the new Wong Kar Wai film "My Blueberry Nights" starring Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Norah Jones, Rachel Weiss, and possibly Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power).

I recommend watching them in reverse order (3, 2, 1). I never saw 2046, so I'm not too sure I'm excited about this one either. The film will be Wong Kar Wai's first English language feature (remember he shot that excellent BMW short film years ago).



terry on 06.12.07 @ 09:05 PM PDT [link]


Wednesday, June 6th

Child "blank" (rhymes with smoosh)


I'm not really into name calling, but this kid makes me come close.



(via BWE)

Stick with it, it will haunt you at night. The only thing scarier would be a feral child.



terry on 06.06.07 @ 09:26 PM PDT [link]


Sunday, June 3rd

Do I Look Cool?


In keeping with the youtubing of British comedians, here's a classic from Steve Coogan (of 24 Hour Party People fame).



terry on 06.03.07 @ 06:10 PM PDT [link]


Friday, June 1st

seriously . . .


I had to stop watching this in the middle because it had to go up now.



terry on 06.01.07 @ 06:39 PM PDT [link]