Cheezborger cheezborger cheezborger ^TM!! (ad infinitum) is one of the sounds you're likely to hear upon descending the stairs down to Lower Michigan Avenue and walking through a big fireman-red door (perhaps for the monthly Chicago meetup?) into the Billy Goat Tavern and Grill, where the bathrooms are confusingly named but not unisex, and where you can get a "cheezborger" or any one of a number of vegetarian-unfriendly menu options. [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Oct 20, 2009 - 35 comments

Billy Mays dead at 50 But wait, there's no more! [more inside]
posted by majikstreet on Jun 28, 2009 - 176 comments

Following in the fine tradition of The Nietzsche Family Circus (previously), Pearls Before Swine, And the Dysfunctional Family Circus, comes Scott Meets Family Circus ( via and self-salvaged from metachat)
posted by The Whelk on Jun 11, 2009 - 87 comments

If you're in the mood for some of that juicy, satisfying, blues-inflected and soulful-as-hell organ jazz served up Jimmy Smith-style, check out these 1964 BBC TV appearances from Smith and his trio: The Sermon, Wagon Wheels, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf, Uptempo Blues and Theme from Mondo Cane. [more inside]
posted by flapjax at midnite on Apr 29, 2009 - 16 comments

In 1857, hundreds of strange objects suddenly started appearing in London antique shops: coins and medals, vases and statues, all made out of soft metal with weird designs and cryptic lettering. They were the work of two illiterate London mudlarks, William Smith and Charles Eaton, who managed to fool some of the leading archaeologists of the day into accepting their forgeries as genuine medieval antiquities.
posted by verstegan on Aug 30, 2008 - 15 comments

Once upon a time, there were some Belgian men with souls of wax (warning: web designers will feel faint and then proceed to vomit), who were told that they had too many disc jockeys, just way 2 Many. They were known for creating bastards. And they helped an uptown girl visit a love shack, and they helped a woman who worked nine to five sound a little more funky than country (backup link). [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Dec 31, 2007 - 37 comments

Ace In The Hole. The best movie about a reporter ever? [more inside]
posted by fearfulsymmetry on Dec 16, 2007 - 33 comments

The Big-Nosed Bastard from Barking has been very, very busy. In the past month, Billy Bragg has won the Classic Songwriter Award from Q, then collaborated with Beethoven (some of the B-Man's fans mutter darkly), and taken the hand of a small, matronly admirer before kindly giving it back to her, along with an autographed copy of the score. (He's prepared for the fallout: "I'll probably get struck off Morrissey's Christmas card list." ) [more inside]
posted by maudlin on Oct 29, 2007 - 29 comments

It is just over 10 years since Billy Mackenzie committed suicide. As frontman of The Associates, Mackenzie was, even by rock star standards, an eccentric individual. There is a great fansite with many articles on Mackenzie and his music which gives further info for those who want to know more. A Scottish TV documentary on Mackenzie and the Associates is here: Part 1;Part 2; Part 3; Part 4. For those who want to get straight to the songs and that wonderful voice, many Top of the Pops performances are on youtube: Party Fears Two; Club Country; 18 Carat Love Affair (featuring Alan Rankine playing a chocolate guitar).
posted by ClanvidHorse on Jul 26, 2007 - 9 comments

Why, God, Why? We've never seen a holiday cash-in too bizarre to love. This season, please to enjoy A Very Idol Christmas.
posted by EatTheWeak on Nov 9, 2006 - 38 comments