The William Beckett

Now I remember why I adore flying so much… That IS my...

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:36:31 -0500

Now I remember why I adore flying so much… That IS my guitar propping up that pink booster seat in the 5 degree weather in Chicago. And it does NOT belong to me or mine, by the way.

However, I remain an optimist. In the words of one of my favorite rock ‘n roll songs of all time, “Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!”

See you in Nashville, my black leather encased friend.

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #50 Tegan and Sara - Hell Fantastic...

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:06:14 -0500

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #50

Tegan and Sara - Hell

Fantastic songwriters with consistently good albums are hard to come by these days, but Tegan and Sara are two of them. From their 6th studio album entitled Sainthood, “Hell” is far and away my favorite song off of an otherwise very solid album. I wish I wrote this chorus. If you like this one and aren’t familiar with their catalog, I’d also recommend the albums So Jealous and my arguable favorite, The Con. Enjoy, and of course, DISCUSS!

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At long last, we’ve made it all the way to the 50th SNMC! Its also the last Saturday Night Music Club before Christmas, but we’ll get to 51 by the New Year. I’ve got some exciting things in the works with SNMC in the new year, which I will elaborate on once 2010 is upon us.

I’d also like to thank everyone who supported us yesterday in Chicago by either coming out to the Metro box office with Adam, listening to Mat and I rant and rave at Angels and Kings, or sharing the experience at Reggie’s. It was a busy day, but one that reminded me how much I love our fans. I won’t get all mushy on you guys, but every last one of you are absolutely appreciated and cared about. Don’t forget it.

I guess I got a little mushy anyway.

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I NEED TOP 10 LISTS FROM YOU GUYS!

What are the top 10 SNMC songs from the 50 we’ve had here thus far?

…And if Saturday wasn’t busy enough; what with...

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:06:14 -0500

…And if Saturday wasn’t busy enough; what with swinging by the Metro and the acoustic benefit show at Reggie’s and all… After Adam and I hang at the Metro box office (around 11:30am if you want to get tickets to the Almost Here anniversary show before the they’re gone), I’ll be running across town to Angels and Kings Chicago for a live Q & A session.

Mat Devine’s ‘vunduhful’ advice column on Fuse.tv is going to be filmed live for the first time, and I’m proud to be The Raccoon Society’s esteemed guest. I guess it will be kind of like Loveline, only much, much, much more emo due to my involvement. We’ll be having afternoon drinks and some heartfelt, uplifting, hilarious, and potentially carnal conversation before the Reggie’s show. the only way into the Q & A is through Kill Hannah, but I may be able to get a few people set up… Stay tuned for more on the sneak in.

Think of it like tailgating, only without the beer-guzzling brute burps.

…or not.

Click the ad above for more details from Mat. I am just the “special guest” after all, and thrilled to be, at that.

I’ve been meaning to see this movie since last year....

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:53:36 -0500

I’ve been meaning to see this movie since last year. Woody Allen’s latest crime/thriller, released in 2007 before Vicky Cristina Barcelona and after it’s stylistic counterpart, Match Point.

Reasons Cassandra’s Dream is on my short list:

-I’m a fan of Ewan McGregor and Tom Wilkinson.

-Colin Farrell is a solid actor with good direction, which leads me to…

-I’m always and forever a complete sucker for Woody Allen.

My dear old friend Dr. Dan Young, doing the proverbial...

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:27:16 -0500

My dear old friend Dr. Dan Young, doing the proverbial promotional push for our incorruptible craftsman of cool clothing, Snakes & Suits.

danyoungblog:

My first modeling job…haha. It’s for my friend’s clothing brand called Snakes & Suits. If you’re interested, they are having a sale (20% off), but it ends tomorrow! Have a look: snakesandsuits.com

This is going to be quite an event! Tickets will go on sale to...

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:40:05 -0500

This is going to be quite an event!

Tickets will go on sale to the public this Saturday, December 19th, which is the same day I’ll be playing an acoustic cancer benefit show at Reggie’s in Chicago. Who knows, we may even give away some tickets at the acoustic show, so if you were holding out on going THIS MAY CHANGE YOUR MIND.

Hopefully I’ll see you Saturday, which will also be the 50th Saturday Night Music Club! More exciting news will be revealed this week so stay tune friends and foes.

Back home the first snow is falling. Will it stick and stay, or...

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:04:39 -0500

Back home the first snow is falling.
Will it stick and stay, or fall and fade,
Spent, temporarily sprawling?

SLICK. johnnyminardi: Snakes & Suits

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:14:50 -0500

SLICK.

johnnyminardi:

Snakes & Suits

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #49 Copeland - The Day I Lost My Voice...

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:20:00 -0500

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #49

Copeland - The Day I Lost My Voice (The Suitcase Song)

Here’s a great song from a band whom I also enjoy a great deal. From their 5th full length album titled YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, this song features Aaron Marsh’s wonderfully delicate vocal layers sparsely, yet tastefully accented by the band’s musical accompaniment. Lyrically its quite appropriate as we race down the interstate, homeward bound and road worn. If you like what you hear, I’d also like to additionally recommend “No One Really Wins” from my favorite Copeland album, IN MOTION. Enjoy and discuss!

PS.

This Guest Recommendation Tonight Is Brought To You By My Friend @chrisfreeman. Happy 20th Birthday, funboy! (help make his day and follow him on twitter. he’ll flip out.)

A SINGLE MAN. The directorial debut of Tom Ford. This film...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:17:12 -0500

A SINGLE MAN. The directorial debut of Tom Ford.

This film looks brilliant. Beautiful cinematography and a wonderful cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, and Ginnifer Goodwin. Murder mystery anyone?

Count me in.

NERD ALERT #9 And just when I thought I lost interest in this...

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:57:23 -0500

NERD ALERT #9

And just when I thought I lost interest in this show… Here is the first promo photo for the final season of one of the most imaginative shows on television.

This isn’t an original post of mine. I saw it in a slew of ReBlogs but instead of fueling regurgitation, I started a new chain.

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If any one of you is a fan of this show, where do you think its heading? I thought I had a fool-proof theory solidified, only to find it debunked in season 5.

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #48 Sunday Afternoon Edition Fleet...

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:09:39 -0500

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #48

Sunday Afternoon Edition

Fleet Foxes - Your Protector

Here we are. The last day of the AP Fall Ball, bus idling outside of the Alter Bar in Pittsburgh, PA., reflecting upon tours of old and the culmination of the current one. We’ve met some people on the tour that have become close friends over the past 9 1/2 weeks (Mickey Rourke & Kim Basinger anyone?). We’d like to thank You Me at Six, Secret Handshake, Set Your Goals, Mayday Parade and all the crew on the tour, we had some good times; particularly last night, from which every last one of us have hangovers.

Now to the song! Here is a very good song from a very good band; FLEET FOXES, from their self titled album. Listen loud, listen close. Enjoy and Discuss.

Somebody get me a bloody mary…

Tom Waits and Iggy Pop in Jim Jarmusch’s 2003 vignette...

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:38:00 -0500

Tom Waits and Iggy Pop in Jim Jarmusch’s 2003 vignette based film COFFEE AND CIGARETTES. If you haven’t seen the film be sure to check it out. A conversationalist’s wet dream, it features a series of encounters between actors, musicians and everyday people over coffee and cigarettes. I know TBS (the tv station, not the band) has claimed that their shows are “very funny”, but this film truly belongs in that classification.

Suggestions for SNMC tonight?

Check out this new 30 Seconds to Mars video for Kings + Queens....

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:11:36 -0500

Check out this new 30 Seconds to Mars video for Kings + Queens. This is by far the best video I’ve seen in years.

Whoever said music videos are dead hasn’t seen this.

FLEA FROM RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS OPENS MUSIC SCHOOL IN SILVERLAKE, CA.

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:07:15 -0500

FLEA FROM RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS OPENS MUSIC SCHOOL IN SILVERLAKE, CA.:

This is fantastic.

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #47 The Walkmen - The Rat Here we...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:53:00 -0500

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB #47

The Walkmen - The Rat

Here we have yet another awesome song from another awesome band too few people know about. From their second studio release Bows + Arrows. One of the aspects I love most about this one is the desperation of the vocal delivery coupled with the frantic fast-paced drumming and guitar work. I hope you enjoy!

DISCUSS.

PS. Tell me the most desperate thing you’ve ever done.

My good friend Johnny Minardi approached me a couple months ago...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:53:22 -0500

My good friend Johnny Minardi approached me a couple months ago asking me if I’d like to play a cancer benefit show in December, to which I whole-heartedly agreed to be a part of. I’ll be playing an acoustic set on December 19th at Reggie’s (Record Breakers!), and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the American Cancer Society.

Click the flier above for tickets, or go to MPSHOWS.COM.

Be there.

HALLOWEEN 2009. NORFOLK, VA. @ THE NORVA.

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:34:37 -0500

Application.

Preparation.

DEMONstration.

Progression.

Dia De Los Muertos.

HALLOWEEN 2009.

NORFOLK, VA. @ THE NORVA.

Bus Breakdown Bummer.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:03:22 -0400

BREAKING NEWS.

Due to a broken down bus, we will be unable to play tonight’s show in Atlanta, GA on the Fall Ball Tour. We apologize to our fans who were planning on seeing us at the Masquerade tonight, we were greatly looking forward to this show. We wish we could be there, but these unfortunate events tend to happen at the least expected times. We are planning on switching buses tonight and heading to Nashville, TN to get back on the caravan. Again, we are very sorry to be missing the show tonight. Atlanta has been one of our favorite cities to play since the beginning. We’ll try and make it up to you in some way.

-William & TAI

From Mat Devine's Q & A Column...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:35:28 -0400

From the bottom of my rotten baby bird heart, I want to THANK my good friend and this week’s guest-host William Beckett. I always knew he was clever, but I didn’t expect to be so inspired by the thoughtfulness and honesty with which he approached your inquiries. To the fans of The Academy Is… Welcome to the Raccoon Society. Stay forever.

“2. FROM Sadie

Q: ?????William, I remember hearing in an interview that you have a slight stutter and lose your words sometimes. I have a stutter (maybe a little worse than yours) and I struggle with it. My friends all tell me it’s cute or funny but to me it just feels like I’m losing a battle with myself. I’ve tried all of the normal tricks (i.e. reading poetry, singing, speaking in rhythm, etc) with minimal success. My parents aren’t willing to spend money on a speech therapist simply because we don’t HAVE the money which is something I don’t want them to have to worry about just so I might be less embarrassed. Do you have any tips/tricks for how to get rid of a stutter or, even, just hide it a little better?

A: Dearest Sadie,

I’m no stranger to the untimely, slave-driving ways of the stutter affliction. In school growing up I would dread being called upon in class to read aloud or field a teacher’s question, and it was rarely because I didn’t know the answer.

One thing I noticed as I went through useless speech classes and agonizing “Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Pepper” alliteration exercises, is that I would find myself struggling with a word that started with a particular letter (like “P” for instance).

The way that I try and get around using certain words when I feel a block coming is to immediately think of a different way to illustrate the word I was intending to use. For example, if I was trying to say “The Fire exit being blocked poses a potential problem…”, to avoid the “P” parade I’d say “The fire exit being blocked could yield unsafe results.”

By dodging problematic words in this fashion, I’ve not only managed to mask my stutter more effectively, but I’ve greatly improved my vocabulary….”

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