Alkaline Trio vs. wild bears

I covered the release of five black bear cubs back into the Carson Range this week, the culmination of a project we've been following for more than a year. It was pretty intense, to say the least. My photographer, Patrick, got some spectacular video of the release, which can be seen along with my story here . You can see me in some of the shots and Carl, the biologist who led the adventure, is talking to me in the narration -- we just cut my audio in editing.

I've done about four stories on Carl and his new wife (one of the few people in the Carson City area who might be cuter than me), so I guess that makes us all sort of work friends. Which is good, because, as you'll see in the clip, Carl is not a guy you want to get crosswise with.

Also, I did a phoner with Matt from the Alkaline Trio in advance of their show next week. He was a really cool guy, one of the easiest rock star interviews I've ever done. Check it out here.

A quick note

I just noticed that several of the links to my recent RGJ stuff (newest FP, the two pieces on The Used) have been broken for a few weeks. They're fixed now, if anyone cares to check them out.

The Used and odd combinations

So I went to see The Used on Saturday and it was a truly strange affair. The bands could not have been more different from one another. The kids just didn't know what to think when Street Drum Corps (sort of a muscle-powered KMFDM) was followed by Army of Me, which can most kindly be described as a middle-aged Jonas Brothers. That was before Straylight Run started in with the Elton John pianos and gospel lyrics. Leading into The Used, whose singer got famous kissing the dude from My Chemical Romance and puking onstage, that was the one that really made me wonder if I was hallucinating.

The thing is, all of the bands were great in their own ways. All things considered, it was a really great night and it leads one to wonder what The Used's next album might be like since, as their bassist Jeph told me last week, people are spongy and this band has proven to be especially so. See my review of the show here .

The Used at Lawlor Events Center

I talked to Jeph from The Used last week about their upcoming show, James Brown and what he calls "gross-pop." I was tempted to grovel like a fanboy because I really like the band, so I kind of overcompensated and hardballed him more than was probably necessary. Whatever. The mattress stuffed with hundred-dollar bills and crowded with Suicide Girls he sleeps on will probably get him through any emotional distress I may have caused.

Anyway, I apparently wasn't rude enough not to make the guest list, so I'll see you kids there. Check out the interview here and look for the review on Sunday.