Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas

About Me

Get Your Own Voice Player Manage
I'm an optimist/realist.
I'm a dreamer. Some say it's to a fault, but if I have nothing to look forward to, then I'll have nothing to look forward to....
I still feel very young, but I can't help but feel like I'm running out of time.
I'm not going to give up until I get at least one slice of pie. With whipped cream.
I should be in a better place right now. On many levels. It's a blessing and a curse. It stings me, but it also drives me.
I'm pretty sure that I'm funny, but it's hard to tell when most of your humor goes over a lot of people's heads.
I'm pretty sure I'm an excellent writer, but ultimately, the reader is the only true judge of that. If they don't get it or like it, it's most likely my fault.
I am dust.
I am an elastic firecracker.
I've got bulldog skin.
I am the eggman.
I don't wanna grow up.
Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me.
I am a writer.
I've written pages upon pages trying to rid you from my bones.
I am a tree.
I'm in the process of writing Rock N' Roll Graduate School , a book about music.
Here are some of my Album Reviews:
Let Go by Nada Surf
So Divided by ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Shame-Based Man by Bruce McCulloch
Sam's Town by the Killers
Christ Illusion by Slayer
Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers
All Mine by Gerald Young
Pearl Jam
10,000 Days by Tool
Hypnotize by System of a Down
The Mouse and the Mask by DangerDoom
Z by My Morning Jacket
Ancient Melodies of the Future by Built To Spill
The Sophtware Slump by Grandaddy
I'll see you here(?):

My Interests

I have no right to have any interests until I finally get my shit together and finish my book...

I'd like to meet:

The publisher of my book.

I write for this website:

Below are a few testimonials from some really cool ass individuals who have read my crap:

"You know full well that I am never full of shit. Keep that in mind when I say this is one of the BEST things you have ever written. I find myself shrugging off a tear or two. You have managed to capture the feeling of true devotion without delving into blind worship. I can honestly say this is you at your home. Your passion is just so damn tangible, this is where you come alive. Your article is professional and honest. You are so very capable of making music journalism a career. I quote The Rough Guide To Rock, third edition 'Like nearly every other musical icon from Elvis to James Brown to John Lennon to Micheal Jackson to Madonna, Kurt Cobain had a psyche that was too big for one body.' Your reviews are on the same level." -- Ben aka 'Babies Taste Like Chicken'

"Thank you so much for directing my ADHD raddled brain to this blog...incredible. Keep plugging away at it man. You amaze me every day, and if anyone on here has got the stuff to really go somewhere it's you. You not only create engaging and powerful art, you inspire all the rest of us to do so as well." -- Addie

"I have to tell you, Jonathan--that was a beautifully moving piece. Anything I might add would be meaningless. Well done!" -- Ray Ellis

"Satire at its best" -- Royso David

"It's like Gene Shalit on crystal meth!" -- Moronic Mark

"This, my friend, is absolutely brilliant. I'm still chuckling." -- Patrick

"The Music Book is a fantastic idea, and when it gets published I'm picking up copies for myself and all of my friends..." -- Tainted Meat

"I finally got to reading this blog. I must say you can straight up write. Also, forget what I said about you writing too much. Keep going and screw the critics." -- Brandon Young

"You're awesome- love the timeline you gave yourself (just dont make it too rigid, things happen). You're an awesome writer and person and you'll get there.... although you already know that. If they dont comment on this then they are idiots. I think it's an excellent, thought-provoking blog." -- Trisha

"I really enjoyed this piece and it is quite obviously heartfelt... not that other stuff isn't, but in this, you shine." -- Jesse

"surely a man that knows his own mind as well as you must certainly succeed somewhere along the lines" -- Paulio

I loved the passion that just poured from this article. -- Falco

"This blog rules. I need to read more of your stuff." -- Tripp

"Fuckin' hilarious! And educational to boot!" -- Captain Nighttime

"Thank you Jonathan. That was very beautifully written." -- Toni

"Fuck. This just turned my day upside down, but it's really well written." -- DJ Radiohead

"That was really beautifully written and certainly thoughtful and touching" -- Vindi

"lol" -- everybody in the universe

Music:

I'm writing a book about it. Please spread the word about it and please buy it when it comes out. If you like these bands below, you will probably like the book.
Top 100 Albums of 2006
The Best Albums from 2001-2005
Essential Reggae Albums
Essential Electronic Albums
Essential Comedy Albums
...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Alpha Blondy
Arsonists
the Band
B. Banton
Baroness
the Beatles
Beck
Black Francis
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Blu
Bobby Digital
JB
Buck 65
Brand Nubian
Black Keys
S. Burns
Cash
Chokebore
Chixdiggit
Coconut Records
O. Coleman
Coltrane
Count Bass D
M. Davis
Deftones
(MF) Doom
Dinosaur Jr.
DJ Shadow
DJ Q-Bert
DJ Wally
Dr. Dog
Dylan
Earle
Edan
EWF
Flaming Lips
Foo Fighters
Faith No More
Field Music
Folds
Fugazi
Gang Starr
Gravediggaz
Ghostface Killah
Grandaddy
Guttermouth
Genius/Gza
Half Japanese
Hancock
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Helmet
Hepcat
Horse the Band
Hum
Husker Du
Immortal Technique
Isaacs
Jane's Addiction
Ja. Johnson
Johnston
JSBX
Kid Koala
Killarmy
King Missile
Kings of Leon
KMD
Kool & the Gang
J. Lennon
S. Lennon
Les Rhythmes Digitales
Lemonheads
Lagwagon
G. Marks
B. Marley
S. Marley
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Mastodon
MC Paul Barman
Melvins
Minutemen
Modest Mouse
Mr. Bungle
My Morning Jacket
W. Nelson
Nirvana
No Fun At All
NOFX
Primus
Pearl Jam
Pig Destroyer
S. Poltz
Prince
Prince Paul
Quasimoto
Queens of the Stone Age
Queen
Rage Against the Machine
Ramones
Rancid
System of a Down
Shudder to Think
Showbiz & AG
Sole
Skankin' Pickle
Sixtoo
the Smiths
T. Snider
Steely Dan
Sublime
Styx
Tad
A Tribe Called Quest
Tantra Monsters
Tenacious D
the Traveling Wilburys
Urge Overkill
Ugly Duckling
Waits
Ween
Wonder
Wu-Tang Clan
Yellowman
Yes
Zevon

Movies:

Adaptation.
American Graffiti
Austin Powers Trilogy
Back to the Future Trilogy
Barfly
Be Kind Rewind
the Big Lebowski
Bottle Rocket
Bowfinger
Bringing out the Dead
Clerks
Clerks II
the Darjeeling Limited
the Devil and Daniel Johnston
Face/Off
Fargo
Fearless Freaks
Freddy Got Fingered
Glengary Glen Ross
High Fidelity
Knocked Up
Kung Pow
Memento
No Country for Old Men
Office Space
Planet Terror
Punch Drunk Love
Pulp Fiction
Rushmore
the Science of Sleep
Sin City
Stand by Me
Stranger Than Fiction
Sydney
3:10 to Yuma
This is Spinal Tap
True Romance
Zoolander

Television:

the Andy Griffith Show
Arrested Development
Beavis and Butthead
Boston Legal
Chuck
Curb Your Enthusiasm
the Daily Show
Dinner For Five
Hell's Kitchen
the Essence of Emeril
Kid Nation
the King of Queens
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Leave it to Beaver
M*A*S*H*
the Office
the Office (UK)
Politically Incorrect
Real Time with Bill Maher
Sanford & Son
Scrubs
Seinfeld
Taxi
Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn

Books:

Rock N' Roll Graduate School
Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch
Fargo Rock City
Killing Yourself to Live
Sex, Drugs & Cocoa Puffs
Route 666: on the Road to Nirvana
Tainted Meat
Bill Simmons
DJ Gallo
ESPN.com's Page 2
Letters From a Nut
Chicken Soup For the Serial Killer's Soul

Heroes:

Lynn Johnson
Joan Jones
Andy Kaufman
Richard Pryor
George Carlin
Opie and Anthony
Jim Norton
Colt Brennan
Conan O'Brien
Kurt Cobain
Jack Black
Bill Maher
Cornel West
Seth Rogen
Judd Apatow
Patrice O'Neal
Colin Quinn
Patton Oswalt
Quentin Tarantino
Tim Fattig
Jerry Dennis
Chris Jacques

My Blog

Limitations

Hello everybody. Came back from Vegas to an almost empty apartment. Yet another blow. She's really gone. Even the cat is gone. I will miss them both. But everday is still a little bit better I think. ...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:57:00 PST

Away From Her(e) or FucKokomo

And the weirdness continues. In the midst of my world gone astray, I am ready to experience another twist and a few more turns and this time it will be in Las Vegas, a vacation I planned a couple...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:25:00 PST

Film Review: Run Fatboy Run

"I'd crush Thandie Newton like a candy crouton..." -- MC Paul Barman This was originally posted at FilmArcade, which I would have linked if myspace wasn't being all Hitler about linking right now, but...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:40:00 PST

Postcard from the Edge: Lesions Greetings

Dearest Ezekiel, I must relay to you the latest news. I am embarking on a new journey to somewhere. My momentary stay in Hades is nearly complete and I am looking forward to the climate...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:42:00 PST

the Ultimate Diversion: 2007 in Film

Movies are normally my favorite diversion, but now I need them more than ever and I thought this would be the perfect time to unveil my favorite stuff of '07 as it pertains to cinema. I was going...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:51:00 PST

Here, My Dear

The last two nights I've had work to distract me, but it hasn't helped much. I have to go back there again tonight and then I'll have some more days off, which I'm looking forward to because I've been...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:47:00 PST

Day 2 of My New Life or Countdown to Death

Wow. Just wow. That wow goes in so many directions, not the least bit you guys. I really appreciate the support. It's so strange to feel like you're life is falling apart while receiving so much ...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:16:00 PST

(VVIP) Like it or not, youre my Bartender

I wish there was a category for "death" or "extreme nausea" right now, because I've just been shot through the heart. You should either feel priveleged or extremely sorry for me, because after hearing...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:03:00 PST

Living Well: the Top Ten Albums of 2007

Being that 2007 was one of the best years for music in my lifetime (1975-present), I decided to use a play on titles of some of the greatest albums of all time from the likes of the Beatles, the Smith...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:50:00 PST

Fantasy Baseball/Wear Eye Being/What’s Next

The new trend seems to not be around here anymore, or to not get too close to each other. God forbid. Well, I’m the latest to join the "not here as much" crowd, but I still miss pretty much the ...
Posted by Jon X. Bangs: Lost in Vegas on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:35:00 PST