Tao of Pauly

Least Easter

By Pauly
Hollyweird, CA

"He doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about. Been snorting too much blow again," I said moments after I hung up the phone.

Nicky whizzed down empty Pico Blvd. past the Fox lot en route to her parents' house in Westwood for Easter dinner. I felt like crap for the previous 20 or so hours leading up to Easter Dinner. The night before, we had ate Indian food. Bad mistake. I wretched in pain all Saturday night. I took something to knock me out and I actually slept for almost seven hours... which was the total sleep I had gotten in the previous three nights combined.

Dinner was lovely. Nice Italian dish. Nicky's father relentlessly teased me about the Yankees and repeatedly commented that Joba Chamberlin was a fat drunk. I showed him Joba's DUI test that was posted on the Smoking Gun which seemed to appease him.

A book that I ordered was mailed to Nicky's parents house. It was several weeks late and finally arrived. I wish that it came a couple of days earlier because I already selected my travel books for the upcoming trip.

A couple of friends of mine co-authored a book that is due out next month. The Poker Shrink and Amy Calistri sent me an advanced copy of their manuscript. I was fortunate to catch one of the first glimpses of the book. Honored, indeed.

I read the book over the last couple of days and devoured the first 177 pages in one sitting during an insomnia-riddled evening. I read the "prison chapter" while I sat at the counter at Nick's and finished the rest of it off on Sunday morning.

I posted a review of Check-Raising the Devil: The Mike Matusow Autobiography over at Tao of Poker. Check it out.

I have been listening to the latest album from the New Mastersounds. They remind me of Galactic circa 1998. Funky-ass-shit considering that 75% of the band are crackers from Britain. They added a female singer to the mix which added a much needed variety to their songs. Both the Joker and Johnnie Walker saw them in Colorado recently and raved about their shows.

The New Mastersounds were 'my new favorite band' in 2008. Previous winners of that prestigious award were...

The Black Keys (2005)
My Morning Jacket (2006)
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (2007)
The New Mastersounds (2008)
???? (2009)

It's pretty obvious that Phish pretty much has that honor locked up, but after seeing Everest perform at Outside Lands Festival last summer in San Francisco, I was very impressed with their sound. Everest is in constant rotation for me, but in the end, I'm not spending a shitload of money to chase them around the U.S. this summer.

And yes, I was joking about the Steely Dan cover band on Twitter. Although a few people fell for it. And yes, I actually had a Steely Dan day when I played every single Steely Dan tune that I had in the depths of my iPod... 30 songs or so.

I forgot about Say Anything. I was a little faded late on Saturday night after trying to dull the stomach pain. I slumped on the couch and recited lines to Say Anything. I also happily sang along with "Joe Lies" chick as she sang her suicidal songs at the party.

Joe lies. When he cries.