June 22, 2005
What is it about these 2 images that seem like they go together ?
Well as interesting as the invite sounded the party for Billy Corgan was far less as exciting as his 18 - minute short film was that was shown all over the Adler Planetarium last night the evening of the release of his first solo album and the Summer Solstice. The new release titled TheFutureEmbrace is more spiritual, psychedelic, poetic and even trippier than his efforts of the past.
I met Kelly at her job where add as it was our bartender from Ranalli's was sited. He seemed surprised to see us and commented that he didn't recognize us w/out beer in our hands. Pretty funny comment indeed. When she changed and closed the place for business I did the same and changed out of shorts and tank top and we were off to the Adler Planetarium. We arrived at 8PM and checked in to the press desk. Well it was NOT a press only event, it was open to the general public and radio listening winners. Not bad but I was under the impression this would be a lot more intimate, but it wasn't, it was CROWDED. And a long line would through the Adler for people to wait and et an item signed. There were no photos with Billy permitted and the signatures were not personalized. Kind of a bummer to the kids but oh well, no big loss for me since I'd met The Pumpkin many years ago.
We both grabbed a glass of Chardonnay and just after I heard a voice call my name. It was Geneen a friend who I run into in the weirdest places. I introduced her to Kelly, and Geneen and she commented that her friend Bree had told her that she'd heard a lot about her from me. (Make sense? ) She was there for the party and making the best of it too. We went into one of the theatres and viewed the 18 minute promo for the record and both were pretty impressed. After walking around some more we left a little after 9 and took the CTA to Ranalli's for a late dinner. And I was dead tired. EXHAUSTED! And I could have fallen asleep at the bar. I think this is one of the few times I ever went to Ranalli's and only had one beer. And I wasn't feeling very good anyway, pretty nauseous from the bus ride or maybe a combo of that, the heat and all the water I had been drinking on an empty stomach. We got out of there after midnight and waited for a bus to her place, and took notice of the big full moon, the moon of 2005 Summer Solstice, it was beautiful but I couldn't appreciate it. It was closer to 1 AM when we got to Kelly's where I surely thought I'd cash upon sitting in front of the tube. Well I wasn't that lucky, it was miserable.
I was up till almost 5 and then only got 15 minutes of sleep at odd intervals. I tossed and turned and had hot/cold flashes and sweats all night. And today I enjoyed a strange Chicago early afternoon trying to locate the new location of an old record store. I didn't get home till after 3 and have had minimum sleep. I have a bad feeling tonight will be the same. But that is something that comes and goes a lot less than it used to so I should be thankful.
Also a big THANKS to Alexandra Greenberg for the comps to the party last night. And to Red Light for the stack of porn that came in the mail today.
Now a BIG weekend on the horizon.
Posted by Alex Zander at June 22, 2005 04:22 PM