My Nephew, the Son of God

I was just looking through my recent posts and getting more depressed by the second. Jeez, what a downer I am—no wonder my stats are plummeting faster than John McCain’s campaign coffers. Why do I only write about mood swings, fundamentalists, and dead celebrities? Time to lighten things up around here and go back to my other reliable standby: shameless family promotion.

Take a look at this unbelievably cool full-page photo of my nephew’s band, The Blisters, from the current issue of “Chicago” magazine (if you click on the photo, it will pop up large enough to read the article). Have you ever seen a better action shot of a band, the Rolling Stones and Beatles included? Now THAT is a rockin’ group. Not to ruin the magic, but my sister sent me photos she took during the shoot and it was a pretty amazing process. Each of the boys was photographed separately against this very cool chalkboard backdrop. Their images would instantly appear on the souped-up Mac and could be manipulated separately from the background. How do they do that?

Unfortunately we’ll be missing the Blisters’ return engagement at Lollapalooza this year but we’ll be in Chicago for their Millennium Park gig on August 20th. Then we’ll be heading back with the Tweedy clan for the west coast leg of the current Wilco tour. If you’re at any of these events, feel free to approach the out-of-place middle-aged bald guy to tell him how depressing you think his blog is.

Spencer has been away for almost a month at the same overnight camp my mother went to in the 1940s. Now it’s run by a different Jewish organization but it looks exactly the same. It’s especially poignant for my siblings and me to see Spencer in surroundings that are so familiar to us from many black and white photos of our young mother. It’s Spencer’s biggest experience to date with organized Judaism and my sister is wondering if he’s going to come home and start separating milk and meat products or refuse to play in his band on the Jewish Sabbath.

Most of the photos of Spencer that have appeared on the camp’s website show him with his new best bud, the son of True Ancestor blogger, David Gottlieb. I only met the Gottlieb family through blogging (their blogging ranks include David, his sister Annie, his brother, his father, and his nieces and nephew) but I have uncovered so many connections between our two families that I’m convinced we were all hanging out at the same pogroms back in the Old Country. We had no idea David’s son would be at this camp, much less in Spencer’s cabin, it seems like a freakishly bizarre coincidence…OR IS IT?

In my recent post about the so-called controversy surrounding the use of Wilco songs in some Volkswagen commercials, some critics have all but accused Jeff Tweedy of having a God complex. What nonsense. But be sure to tune in to tonight’s episode of “Lil’ Bush,” the new animated series on the Comedy Network, where Jeff will be playing…um…the voice of God! Gulp. He joins Iggy Pop as Lil’ Rummy, Frank Black as the Devil, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as themselves. Will this part create delusions of grandeur? Oh well, it’s better than his last role. This isn’t the first time Jeff has been animated. He appeared in our Toronto cousins Jeremy and Jonas Diamond’s brilliant series, “Odd Job Jack” on the Canadian Comedy Network. (For some reason, this great show is not yet available in the U.S. but you can watch episodes online.)

I’m wondering how Spencer’s camp would react if they knew one of their new campers was the son of God. Maybe they’d be fine with it—the first one was Jewish too. I wonder if Jesus was any good at water polo.

Comments

[david]

I love seeing a picture of Gabe and Spencer on your blog.

And I love your blog. Statistics be damned (of course I would say that: I get two old widows and two family-member visits on a good day).

[Frank]

What a COOL photo! First, just the fact that it's a COOL photo, but THEN it's your NEPHEW! Very cool (yes, going for a record on number of 'cools' used in a comment.).

[Heather]

Danny, your blog is NOT depressing! Even when the subject matter is dark, the intelligence and poignancy of your writing reassures me that there are decent people out there in the world.

[Churlita]

I think stats are down for everyone in the Summer when the weather is nice and people are gone on vacation. I wouldn't take it personally.

I must have missed your brother-in-law on Li'l Bush last night. I caught it toward the end. Damn.

[Leah]

Make sure to send me a reminder for that August 20th show!

[Sarah]

What an adorable kid!

[Danny]

Correction: Jeff's first appearance on "Lil' Bush" is NEXT Wednesday, so tune in on July 18th to see his God complex in action!

[Rurality]

I agree with Heather - your blog is not depressing in the least.

Plus, you know that people with feeds (like Bloglines subs) won't show up in your stats unless they click over to comment, right? And those are usually your most loyal readers.

Besides, stats should only be used to make fun of the insane phrases people search on.

Having cute nephews never hurts though. :)

[Elisabeth]

I'll definitely try to tune in for that episode of "Lil' Bush" next Wednesday. I am not a huge Wilco fan by any means, but read an interview of Jeff Tweedy in some airline magazine fairly recently (I think it was on an American Airlines flight) - the guy is certainly complex and captivating.

The Jewish camp sounds like fun, and I love the picture of Spencer and Gabe. As much as Spencer might be a budding rock star, he is still a little boy.

Screw the blog stats. I check your blog everyday, Danny, and I am always happy when there is a new post.

[Neil]

Have you thought about writing a song for one of the family members?

[Pam G]

Danny, It was through a "google" on a dead celebrity that I found your wonderful blog. It's always intelligent, literate, and interesting.

"Chin up" We're out here reading! Including this fan of writing on "dead" celebrities.

[ToddVodka]

Stats are so bothersome. I just assume that no one reads my blog, that's why I allways claim to be the author of another in these coments sections.

[Jen]

As a photographer who loves to shoot live bands, that Blisters picture is the pinnacle. They look fantastic!

[Grandma]

I loved the picture of the Blisters. I am Dylan's Grandma and live in the Seattle area. I had heard about the photo, but have not seen it yet. I am flying to Chicago to be at Kidzapolooza this Saturday to see them. Thanks for posting it!!

[Someone]

Cool photo. Really rocks. Is it just a coinsidence (excuse my spelling) that he's wearing the same shirt in every pictue, including the camp one?

[Paula Wagner]

Tearful, funny, sad, nostalgic, touching, hysterically funny, crazy, looney tunes or outrageously full of chutzpa ~ your blog is always wonderful. Every word a gem.
Stories I might never have heard, stories that were my childhood. And for your info, I absolutely love Magen David sickly sweet wine and have since my first seder sip six decades ago. One of our family memories was my uncontrollable, screeching laughter as I slid off my chair to the floor after the second "Boreh Pri HaGeffen". And that was when I was still sitting on the Bklyn & Manhattan yellow pages! Only competition to Magen David Pesach wine is the Pomegranate wine now made in the Golan. But that's another story.
Keep writing whatever flows from you to all of us. And of course Chag Pesach Sameach to you all. BTW, love Charlie's kipah.

[Paula Wagner]

Oh, and did I neglect to mention that my first grandchild, Oliver, was born 4 days ago?
I'm having a kvell moment.
If not for your super blog, how else could I tell millions of people all at once about Oliver? Now maybe I can attempt stopping every person in the street to share my nachat.

[William]

Wow, that's a great photo for someone so yong. They must really love everything that's going on. Makes it even better that it's your nephew. Congrats