Stadium Arcadium Art

May 8. Can't wait.

Irv Kluger Dies at 84

Irv Kluger, a passionate jazz drummer who played with nearly every great musician, died recently.
I took lessons from the spirited and wacky Irv, who used to teach at Mahoney's drum shop in Las Vegas. He used to tell me, once I felt comfortable, I could sit in with his band at Pogos. Well, I never made it there, but he played at Pogos right up until his death. I still practice with the thick binder of handwritten lessons he gave me. Rest in peace, Irv.
photo by R. Marsh Starks

Drummer moved many during long career
By Ed Koch and Jerry Fink
Las Vegas Sun

When Irv Kluger hit his drums, you couldn't help but tap your foot - or even get up and dance.

"Irv Kluger and his All Stars were terrific," The Washington Post wrote on Sept. 18. "Their jazzy music was loud and lively and seamless. It rolled robustly off the little stage in waves. People slow-danced between the tables. (The bartender) did a little box step behind the cash register."

During eight decades, millions moved to the beat of Kluger's drums.

Kluger, a Big Band-era musician who also was a member of Artie Shaw and the Gramercy Five and performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Goodman, died Tuesday at Nathan Adelson Hospice from complications of a stroke and heart attack he had suffered in late January. He was 84.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 41 years are pending. Kluger's family said his ashes will be sent to Israel, where he always dreamed of visiting but never did. Palm Mortuary is handling the arrangements.

For 20 years, Kluger led the Friday night jazz jam sessions at Pogo's Tavern, 2103 N. Decatur Blvd.

"I used to sit there and look over my shoulder at Irv when he was playing and wonder, what did this guy sound like 50 years ago when he was in his 30s?" said 65-year-old keyboardist Dick Fazio, who was with Kluger's band for three years. "He was a great musician up until the end."

Born July 9, 1921, in New York City, Kluger started learning the violin at 4 but soon switched to drums and became a professional musician at 13. He would go on to perform with Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and dozens of others.

"I am fortunate," Kluger said in a May 27 Sun story. "I am skilled and I'm getting better. I'm learning all the time. I like challenges."

Kluger, who in recent years resembled Einstein with his unmanageable mop of white hair and white moustache, attended college at a Manhattan Christian school in the late 1930s. A pre-law student, he put himself through school on the $85 a week he earned playing nights and weekends in a band.

He eventually chose music over law and, in addition to live performances, became one of the top recording session drummers of his time, spending 10 years in the 1950s and '60s in Los Angeles studios.

His drums can be heard on the soundtrack of the 1962 film "The Longest Day" and other motion pictures, as well as on numerous jazz and Big Band recordings including "Ella Fitzgerald - The War Years (1941-1947)" and trombonest Milt Bernhart's "The Horns" that also featured Maynard Ferguson on the euphonium.

According to allmusic.com, Kluger's first major job was with Georgie Auld's Orchestra from 1942 to 1943. He recorded with Gillespie in 1945. Kluger was with Stan Kenton's Orchestra from 1947 to 1948 and Tex Beneke's band in 1949.

Kluger joined clarinetist Shaw and the Gramercy Five in 1949 but left the band a year later to join the orchestra of "Guys and Dolls" at the 46th Street Theatre on Broadway.

In the early 1950s, Kluger joined Shaw's orchestra to perform hits that included "Frenesi" and "Begin the Beguine." Their nationwide tour included a 12-week gig at the Sahara's Casbar Lounge.

In the spring of 1954, Kluger rejoined the Gramercy Five to work on what would be Shaw's final recording session. Shaw, claiming he had done all he could do with a clarinet, retired that year at 44.

Shaw once said of Kluger: "I loved Irv's playing. He added something important to the band. He made contributions to the music while staying out of the way and allowing things to naturally unfold."

Kluger suffered a series of minor strokes last year, but continued to perform at Pogo's. A recent stroke landed him at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he suffered a heart attack in the emergency room, his family said.

Kluger's survivors include his wife, Phyllis Kluger; two daughters, DeAnna Langer and Jessica Marciel; and a granddaughter, Alexandra Marciel, all of Las Vegas.

Delocator.net

Delocator is a cool site for finding coffee shops, but the idea behind it -- Starbucks is big, therefore bad -- is silly.

The site has gotten all sorts of press and Xtine Hanson's public relations people promoting the site ought to be congratulated -- the media salivates for a big guy vs. little guy story.

But really, big does not equal bad. Coffee lovers like myself go to Starbucks because, well, the coffee is, more times than not, good, fast and consistent. I
go to other locally owned shops as well and when I travel I like to try out new spots. But when I really want what I want, I go to Starbucks because I know I'll get what I want. It is what it is.

Sometimes big can be bad. Many solid arguments have been made about Wal-Mart. But not in Starbucks' case. Starbucks employs thousands of people in local markets and pays relatively well. The company offers many other perks. It also donates to local communities. As far as I can tell, they are a shining example of what a corporate citizen ought to be.

The Key to Happiness

Lincoln had it right, according to a story at LiveScience:

The Keys to Happiness, and Why We Don't Use Them
By Robin Lloyd
Special to LiveScience
posted: 27 February 2006
08:55 am ET


"It requires some effort to achieve a happy outlook on life, and most people don't make it."
—Author and researcher Gregg Easterbrook

Psychologists have recently handed the keys to happiness to the public, but many people cling to gloomy ways out of habit, experts say.

Polls show Americans are no happier today than they were 50 years ago despite significant increases in prosperity, decreases in crime, cleaner air, larger living quarters and a better overall quality of life.

So what gives?

Happiness is 50 percent genetic, says University of Minnesota researcher David Lykken. What you do with the other half of the challenge depends largely on determination, psychologists agree. As Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

What works, and what doesn't

Happiness does not come via prescription drugs, although 10 percent of women 18 and older and 4 percent of men take antidepressants, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Anti-depressants benefit those with mental illness but are no happiness guarantee, researchers say.
Be Happy

University of Pennsylvania’s Martin Seligman offers questionnaires for assessing your happiness, beating depression and developing insights into how to be happier on his web site.

Nor will money or prosperity buy happiness for many of us. Money that lifts people out of poverty increases happiness, but after that, the better paychecks stop paying off sense-of-well-being dividends, research shows.

One route to more happiness is called "flow," an engrossing state that comes during creative or playful activity, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has found. Athletes, musicians, writers, gamers, and religious adherents know the feeling. It comes less from what you're doing than from how you do it.

Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California at Riverside has discovered that the road toward a more satisfying and meaningful life involves a recipe repeated in schools, churches and synagogues. Make lists of things for which you're grateful in your life, practice random acts of kindness, forgive your enemies, notice life's small pleasures, take care of your health, practice positive thinking, and invest time and energy into friendships and family.

The happiest people have strong friendships, says Ed Diener, a psychologist University of Illinois. Interestingly his research finds that most people are slightly to moderately happy, not unhappy.

Read the rest here

James Frey is Back

The author humiliated by Oprah on live TV for fabricating parts of his book "A Million Little Pieces" is back on his blog. More than the humiliation and scandal, Frey wrote two darned good books. I hope he's recovering.

What's Wrong With Healthcare?

What's wrong with healthcare? This paragraph in a NYT story yesterday is right on:

Under the current medical system, doctors, nurses, lab technicians and hospital executives are not actually paid to come up with the right diagnosis. They are paid to perform tests and to do surgery and to dispense drugs.

Taylor Hicks and Drew Danburry

American Idol beat the Olympics on Tuesday night in terms of viewership. Like it or not, one thing you can say about the TV show is that there is a lot of unmined talent out there. They've been sleeping on couches and playing in nightclubs all around the country.

Another thing, America seems to be getting more sophisticated in terms of pop music. They seem to be less interested in the svelte Britney Spears type. Look at the past winners and runners up of the contest, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia and Clay Aiken. They break the pop singer mold.

Look at some of the talent this year, Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin and Chris Daughtry.


Taylor has his own band and self-produced CD. He's been playing out for years.
But the music industry, generally speaking, seems oblivious to the emerging artists out there. Drew Danburry, one of my favorites -- and hard working -- ought to have a record contract. He ought to be making a decent living. He's produced his own records. He tours in a beat up car. He plays skateboard parks, parking lots, sidewalks, clubs. He has a strong fan base, whom he text messages and sends out regular email updates. He's also brilliant as a musician and performer.


The music industry ought to be spending more time out on the town, paying attention to the buzz, sales on independent music sites such as CD Baby. The American music lover wants unique and original.

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kanye

The Chilis may tour with Kanye West. Woo HOO! That makes this a John Frusciante Day!

Chocolate Lounges

Here's a trend I get....

Chocolate lounges' beginning to take hold
New cafes seen among top trends to watch in 2006
The Associated Press

CHICAGO - Former co-workers Karina Godinez, Cheryl Miller and Tara Kennedy gathered at Ethel's Chocolate Lounge in the swanky Lincoln Park neighborhood to celebrate one upcoming wedding and two first pregnancies.

"It's not for you, it's for the baby," Kennedy said to Godinez, spearing a piece of banana with her long fondue fork. The women relaxed on overstuffed pink couches and chairs as they cooed over ultrasound photos, baby socks and gourmet chocolate.

Scenes like this are precisely what McLean, Va.-based Mars Inc. had in mind when it launched the Ethel's chain in Chicago last spring. Mars -- best known as the maker of M&Ms and Snickers -- bills Ethel's as a "place to chocolate and chitchat."

Chocolate cafes or lounges are sprouting up all over the country, presenting themselves as a sweet and cozy alternative to coffee shops and bars.

All are expected to see increased business on Tuesday, boasting an intimate, but approachable, spot to celebrate Valentine's Day. Americans spend about $750 million on chocolate around the holiday each year, said Susan Fussell, spokesman for the National Confectioners Association.

Trend-watching firm Datamonitor called chocolate "the new coffee" in a list of top 10 trends to watch in 2006, and confectionary industry watchers confirm that chocolate cafes are taking hold.

"For women it's like candles and a bubble bath," said Joan Steuer, president of Chocolate Marketing, a Los Angeles-based industry trendspotter. "The whole concept of a place to go and just be with your chocolate and celebrate the experience of chocolate is ... wonderful."

So far, The Hershey Co. -- the nation's largest candy maker -- has not opened any similar cafes, although it purchased two premium chocolate lines last year, said spokeswoman Stephanie Moritz.

MILLER ETHEL'S CHOCOLATE LOUNGE"We're always exploring ways to continue to connect with our customers," Moritz said.

Down the street from the Ethel's on Armitage Avenue is a Vosges Haut-Chocolat Boutique. Chicago-based Vosges has two locations in the city and one each in New York and Las Vegas.

Unlike traditional retail chocolate outlets, chocolate cafes and lounges are more than just candy counters. Chocolate lounges, with their comfy couches and an atmosphere that encourages patrons to linger, feel more like coffeehouses than candy stores.

New York City's Chocolate Bar bills itself as a "candy store for grown ups," serving up hot chocolate in flavors like peppermint, espresso and white chocolate caramel.

And South Bend Chocolate Company has about 10 Chocolate Cafes in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The cafes have broad menus, serving ice cream, soup, salads and sandwiches, but "chocolate's the hook," said South Bend President Mark Tarner.

The company opened its first cafes in 1996. "I think it's going to become a national trend," Tarner said.

Chocolaholics used to paying less than a dollar a day to feed their habit may balk at the idea of paying $1.50 for a single bite-sized piece of Ethel's chocolate, but analysts say that's changing over time.

"If there's one trend that's all-encompassing, it's trading up," Steuer said. "We all want the best that money can buy."

Ethel's pitch is specializing in what it calls "approachable gourmet chocolate," offering 50 different chocolates in five collections with all-natural and as authentic-as-possible ingredients. The Chocolapolitan in the cocktail collection contains real vodka, and the PB&J in American pop is filled with real peanut butter and jelly.

Menu offerings like Chocolates and Cocoa for Two cost $18 and include two hot cocoas and 10 pieces of chocolate of the customers' choice. A box of 48 chocolates is $42.

Truffles and Tea for Two -- a sampling of all 11 truffle varieties -- and Fondue for Two -- a hot pot of chocolate dipping sauce and fruit, pretzels, pound cake and graham crackers -- both cost $15 and are among the most popular items, Haugh said.

And while Ethel's, with its pink and chocolate brown decor, clearly is targeted to women, it attracts its share of male customers, too.

"I hear they have a really good fondue, so we're here to have a chocolately good lunch," said Archie Reyes, eating with friends, both male and female, at the Armitage Avenue location.

"I'm like a girl when it comes to chocolate."

Kate DiCamillo Tour

Kate is going on tour!

Kate DiCamillo

One of the most fabulous authors out there, Kate has a new book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. She writes books for children that are great reads for adults.
Here's the rundown on Kate's books and an interview with Kate, who lives in Minneapolis.

NAMM 2006

Gerald Veasley and Carol Kaye

Oprah Bloodies Frey

Oprah may as well as had a hammer yesterday during her verbal bashing of author James Frey. She bloodied him, humiliated him on live TV!

Now everyone is happy.

The New York Times, which dogged his book when it came out in 2003, ran a front page story. The Great Oprah vindicated NYT and its columnists, who have been critical of Oprah's original move to support Frey. The NYT needn't look any further than its own staff if it wants to throw stones.

One thing that I know for sure is that Oprah has proved that she is, indeed, a brand -- she has become the arbiter of everything that's moral and right.

I've been a fan of hers for years but she has become too powerful. I am disappointed by her actions yesterday. The fact that she can build someone up and rip them down makes me sick. She could've exercised some humility yesterday but she was too embarrassed for herself.

What's worse is the publishing industry. It has glommed on to Oprah because it hasn't figured out how to sell books yet. The industry is pathetic. Last year, a bunch of well-known writers begged her to start her book club again. How about a little ingenuity on behalf of the industry? It seems to me the industry is so behind the times in terms of modern publicity and promotion.

Oprah.com has a link to what some journalists have to say about the book. Ha! As if they are the arbiters of truth. I bet the Smoking Gun could take each and every one of them and dig up dirt. Dirt should be dug when it means something. Frankly, the whole mess reminds me of the short story The Lottery.

Stadium Arcadium

Preview some of the Chili's new songs here. Album due out in May!

NYT Weighs in on Frey

The New York Times covered The Smoking Gun's story about James Frey's book A Million Little Pieces. Geez, what's the big deal. Frey's books are terrific.
He will be on Larry King tomorrow talking about his book.

Smoking Gun vs. James Frey

How do you get a million readers to your web site? Do a major investigation of a best selling author whose made millions on his book, A Million Little Pieces, a story about redemption and recovery from drug addiction. Then tie the investigation to Oprah and call the piece "The Man Who Conned Oprah."
It was an interesting read but little is revealed and most of it is petty. It doesn't do anything to discredit James Frey's books. They're his books. He can write them any way he wants. People who dislike Frey seem to be mostly attacking his apparent wealthy upbringing.
James responds on his blog.
In other James Frey news, Mark Romanek has been hired to direct the movie, A Million Little Pieces.
Romanek did the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Can't Stop" music video, one of the best ever.

While we're at it, Chili Pepper guitarist and solo artistJohn Frusciante is my all-time favorite musician. In 2004, John released six albums in six months. Here is a thank you note that he wrote to Mark.

It's posted on Romanek's Web site.

Ollie Gelfand

The inventor of the Ollie, a skateboard jump that leads in to other tricks, wants to start collecting money from companies using his name to profit on various products with his name on them:

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The skateboarder who invented a sudden hands-free jump named for him, Alan "Ollie" Gelfand, wants a cut from Disney and Sega for using his name.

Ollie also is a model of board made by Flowlab, and Gelfand is suing the companies for more than $20 million, accusing them of trademark infringement.

His nickname appears in a Disney video game, and a Sega arcade machine. It's also listed in the Oxford English Dictionary as both a noun and a verb.

Gelfand owns Olliewood skateboard park in Hollywood, Fla., and says companies that want to legitimately license his name for skateboarding products are now asking why they should pay in light of the major corporations' usage.

Since inventing the jump in 1976, 42-year-old Gelfand has made money from it, but not enough to live off, he told the Miami Herald.

"I'm just a skateboarder," he said. "I'm not a huge, mega corporation ... yet."

Downhill Slolam Racing

From the Northern California Downhill Racing Association

Drew Danburry

One of my favorite singer/songwriter/skateboarder/filmmaker will be in full force this winter, coming to a town near you. Check him out here. Check out his band site. Drew rocks! See for yourself:

Nov 18 2005 8:00P
cafe flo chico, CA
Nov 19 2005 8:00P
magoo's livermore, CA
Dec 1 2005 8:00P
balcony lights las vegas, NV
Dec 2 2005 8:00P
neckbeards tempe, AZ

Dec 3 2005 8:00P
Pinetop High School! pinetop, AZ
Dec 8 2005 8:00P
somewhere near BYUI rexburg, ID
Dec 9 2005 8:00P
kilby court salt lake city, UT
Dec 10 2005 8:00P
the bistro!!! grand junction, CO
Dec 15 2005 8:00P
molly's grad party!?! moscow, ID
Dec 16 2005 8:00P
house show by the train depot boise, ID
Dec 17 2005 8:00P
we'll see... pendleton, OR
Jan 2 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed evanston, WY
Jan 3 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed provo, UT
Jan 4 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed st. george, UT
Jan 5 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed las vegas, NV
Jan 6 2006 8:00P
don't know yet.... riverside, CA
Jan 7 2006 8:00P
che cafe san diego, CA
Jan 9 2006 8:00P
morning glory music santa barbara, CA
Jan 10 2006 8:00P
billy o's ventura, CA
Jan 11 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed san luis obispo, CA
Jan 12 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed bakersfield, CA
Jan 13 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed los angeles, CA
Jan 14 2006 8:00P
house show mesa, AZ
Jan 16 2006 8:00P
the living room tucson, AZ
Jan 17 2006 8:00P
macy's coffee house flagstaff, AZ
Jan 18 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed santa fe, NM
Jan 19 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed las cruces, NM
Jan 20 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed roswell, NM
Jan 21 2006 8:00P
the pod amarillo, TX
Jan 24 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed lubbock, TX
Jan 25 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed dallas, TX
Jan 26 2006 8:00P
super happy fun land!!! houston, TX
Jan 27 2006 8:00P
house show austin, TX
Jan 28 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed ft. worth, TX
Jan 30 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed denton, TX
Jan 31 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed oklahoma city, OK
Feb 1 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed arkadelphia, AK
Feb 2 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed monroe, LA
Feb 3 2006 8:00P
unconfirmed tupelo, MI
Feb 4 2006 8:00P
skatepark of memphis cordova, TN
Feb 6 2006 8:00P
cafe coco nashville, TN

James Frey In NY

For fans of A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard, James will appear in NY Dec. 5, according to James' blog:

Doing a reading at Barnes and Noble, Union Square, NY, NY, on Monday
December 5th at 7:00.

Come to Cali!

James Frey


James' lunchbox raised money for charity