The Strangest Thing to Happen to Mattisblogging

Plagiarism. That’s right, plagiarism. I was thankfully alerted to this about a half an hour ago from Matthew Zellman (of Zehl Steen Think Pound fame), who “googles” his group 20 minutes after every waking hour (J/K!). He pointed out that the blog “I’m finally rockin!” copied my November 14th review of the Zehl Steen Think Pound show…WORD FROM WORD!

See my post @ http://mattisblogging.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/review-zehlsteen-think-pound-102808/

See their “post” @ http://im-finally-rockin.blogspot.com/2008/11/review-zehlsteen-think-pound-102808.html

Now, I am experiencing numerous emotions right now. First off, I am flattered that someone liked my work enough to steal it from me. Mattisblogging must be doing something right to be cited by a famous comedian (Mike Birbiglia) and be plagiarized from.

I am also very confused: why take this post? Are you trying to pretend that you were there? Are you using my blog as an alibi that you couldn’t be somewhere else that night (i.e., a date?). It’s just such a strange post to take. There are so many other post, that discuss much more mainstream, well-known topics. To take a review about a regional sketch comedy group? I don’t know…

But I am mostly outraged! Who does this man, James, think he is? Well I’ll answer that question for him as bluntly as I can (in a 4th-grade dialect)…he’s a copy cat! I was at that Zehl Steen Think Pound Show, and as my review noted, there were only about 10 people in the audience (and I knew five of them). I did not see James there. When I asked Matthew Zellman if he knew who he was, he could not recall knowing him.

Not only did he take my blog post, he also feigned on the fact that he attended the show! Zehl Stein Think Pound is a burgeoning group, they don’t need invisible fans, they need real fans! They need real tukoses in the seats, not people pretending they were there! Although, Zehl Steen is probably happy with the additionally free publicity, so I will leave that point at that.

My crack research team (aka: Jack @ http://notaplumber.blogspot.com) has also pointed out three more examples of plagiarism. Here’s one of them.

Original Post: http://djcnor.wordpress.com/2008/12/24/difference-and-sensitivity-to-it/

James’ “Post”: http://im-finally-rockin.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=15

Hat tip to Jack for doing the work!

However, I am not jumping to conclusions yet. There may be a perfectly good reason that James has used my review in his blog. Perhaps he just really liked the post. Maybe he really is a fan of Zehl Steen Think Pound and wanted to get the word out about the group. However, he was too lazy to create his own review or copy the videos. Or maybe his blog revolves around showcasing other blogs that he likes (but doesn’t tell the reader that).

Ironically, I have a had conversation just today about copyright. I learned that a musician can use a “poor-man-copyright” technique by putting their music on a CD and mail it to themselves and never open the envelope. At that point, whatever is on that CD is considered a copyright piece of work. What do blogs have to do copyright their work. Should I email the blog to myself and never open the email? I will have to consult my lawyer on this.

I will contact James now to inquire about the reason for which he made his blog look identical to mine. I will encourage all my loyal readers to also leave comments on James blog http://im-finally-rocking.blogspot.com to explain himself.

The Big Time!

I was at work today, checking on my blog stats to see how my “Quest for 2009″ was going (see the previous post), when I noticed that I had a referral source of sleepwalkwithmike.com/press. I thought to myself, “Is the site for Mike Birbiglia’s Sleepwalk With Me? No, it can’t be.” But when I clicked on the link, I was miraculously redirected to the Sleepwalk with Me Official Webpage, in their “Press” section. As I scrolled to the bottom, I was shocked to see that my blog’s review of the play was added in their website! I am stoked about this! I never would have thought that my stupid, little blog would be respected enough to be put on Nathan Lane-produced play’s website.

My blog was listed underneath pretty well-known blogs such as the Gawker and Comedy Central. And under newspaper’s reviews from the New York Times, the New York and Associated Press. I would have never thought in a million years that my blog would be in the same company as those. I sort of feel that the people in charge of the play’s site don’t realize that I’m not famous, or that my blog doesn’t reach thousands of people per day. As Mike himself would say about his trip to Iraq, “I was around people gone from the United States so long, they didn’t realize that I’m not famous.” Perhaps those running the website where abroad for a very long time and came back to see this blog saying nice things about to show to think, “Wow, look at this nice review. They have borders and fancy colors, they must be well-known. Let’s put it on the site.” I’m sure they are much more well-known and well-read pages out there,  who also gave the play favorable reviews. It’s strange that they chose my site, I hope they are enough positive reviews out there (the play really deserves all the free press they get, I really enjoyed it).

When I invited Mike to leave a comment on my blog, I had a feeling that he may actually do it. But this is much better! I wonder what those around the ‘net…the people who have no idea who I am or what I do, think about the review. Maybe they are sticking around and reading the rest of the site. That would be sweet!

If “Matt Is Blogging”…is on the sleepwalkwithmike.com website today…obviously the next step is my own section in the New York Times.

Thanks for the free press, people at Sleepwalk with Me! And you had anything to do with it Mike, thanks to you too!

Matt’s End of Year Music Review…2009

Top Ten Albums of the Year:

There were many more full albums that I was unable to sample that I  still need to hear (i.e., MGMT, Black Kids, Oasis, Kings of Leon). But of the ones that I listened to, here are my top 10 favorite.

1. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

These Columbia University graduates stole my heart (and my ears) with the end-to-end best overall album.  They even made a nice impression on my father who loves the song M79.

• Vampire Weekend – M79

2. TV on the Radio – Dear Science,

Dear TV on the Radio, your awesome. Thank you for following up Return to Cookie Mountain with this gem (see Septembter 24th post).

• TV on the Radio – Golden Age

3. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive

Minneapolis’ favorite sons write about the trials and tribulations of the American adolescent like no other in the modern music scene.

• The Hold Steady – Constructive Summer

4. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords

Honestly, this album is more than just a hillarious comedy album. It was very well written and produced.  FOTC received a lo of air time on my iPod this year.  I’m very much looking forward to season two of the television program this year.

• Flight of the Conchords – Robots

5.  The Wombats - A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation

Of all the great British artist (e.g., Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Clash), I listened to this album the most while I was roaming the streets of London this summer. They are straight up a good time.

• The Wombats – Backfire at the Disco

6. The Walkmen – You and Me

I just discovered the Walkmen this year. I love their classic, time-honored sound…and the fact they record with antique instruments and equipment. It really compliments their style. Hey…it’s going to be a good year.

• The Walkmen – In the New Year

7. Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster…

Energy! Excitement! Makes mewant to burn calories! All things I think of when I hear Los Campesinos!, who have so much energy, they decided to release two albums this year. Unfortunately, I have only heard the first album…but I love it! See how excited the band gets me…I’m overusing my exclamation points (like that Seinfeld episode).

• Los Campesinos! – You! Me! Dancing!

8. No Age - Nouns

Rocked my world in very short intervals.

• No Age – Teen Creep

9. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes

Great debut by the Fleet Foxes. This is what good music sounds like if you’re stranded in the middle of a forest with folk artists.

• Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

10. R.E.M. – Accelerate

I loved this album, R.E.M. did a superb job mixing in the sounds of the old with the sounds of the new. “Living Well is the the Best Revenge” was my second favorite opening track this year (just lost to the Hold Steady’s “Constructive Summer). Too bad it monsooned during their concert at Jones Beach…

• R.E.M. – Man Sized Wreath

Honorable Mentions: Brett Dennen (Hope for the Hopeless), Cut Copy (In Ghost Colors), Coldplay (Viva La Vida), Connor Oberst (Connor Oberst)

Top Shows:

(1) Bruce Springsteen @ Giants Stadium

Best Bruce concert I ever went to! The E-Street band rocked for over three hours tha tnight (they  lasted til 1am). Bruce is five days older than my dad and I’ve never seen a human being have so much energy. He didn’t stop to take a breather…not even once. When everyone thought the show was over after “American Land” they play “Jersey Girl!” But that wasn’t all…Bruce then proclaimed “we have one more fairy tale from New Jersey for you” and played “Rosalita!!!”

(2) Paul Simon and Friends @ the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Thank goodness for your friends, Paul. And no, I’m not talking about Art Garfunkel. This was a great show in a beautiful theatre. We heard all of Paul’s classics from the help of the Roches, Olu Dara, Grizzly Bear, Amos Lee, Josh Grobin and Gillian Wrench (I’m sure I’m forgetting some people).

(3) The National @ Central Park

What better way to spend a birthday than with my fellow Matthew, Berninger, in the middle of Central Park. One of my highlights of 2008 was being able to meet Matt while out to dinner in Boerum Hill back in January, he was such a nice guy. I still appreciate your kindness, Matt!

(4) The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5

I’ve wanted to see the Hold Steady in concert for the longest time because of their reputation of being incredible live, and they did not disappoint (see November 12th post). Too bad I’ve haven’t been able to obtain a copy of this show yet.

(5) Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Cha’s @ the New Orleans Jazz Fest

There was something about seeing this family-band in the mud and pouring rain that was authentic New Orleans to a tee.

Let’s see what 2009 has to bring us. Happy Holidays and New Years everyone!

Review: Mike Birbiglia’s “Sleepwalk With Me”

I would like to begin by saying that I am writing this review directly to Mike Birbiglia as he may be alerted about this blog through “Google Alerts.” And no, don’t worry Mike, I won’t call you “pawkward” (pudgy + awkward). Honestly, I think you have lost some weight since the last time I saw you.

I  saw your off-broadway show, “Sleepwalk With Me” almost two weeks ago and I am finally getting around to writing a blog about it. I’ve been wanting to write this review the moment I walked out of the Bleecker Street Theatre but I haven’t been able to get around to it…sorry Mike. But now that I am writing this blog, I would like to say that “Sleepwalk With Me” was hands down the funniest thing I have seen in five years and probably in the top ten funniest things I have seen in my life. From the moment you came on stage, you were “en fuego.” Even your “turn off your cell phone” reminder was funny! You came to my college almost three ago and you were funny then (no Mike, it wasn’t the show at the deli counter)…but that didn’t even compare to what I witnessed at the Bleecker Street Theatre. You were absolutely hilarious and I did not want the show to end.  I read in the NY Times review about your “perfect delivery” and if there was a better word than perfect, I would use it. You made my girlfriend laugh harder than I have ever seen her when you started talking about your bear escape plan was like receiving the parachute in gym class for sky diving (it’s not working but it’s building team skills!). And your karate pose to attack the Jackal in your room was hysterical! Your skill-set is much more than just making English muffin pizzas and microwaving hot chocolate.

I have all of your CD’s, join your mailing list, read your secret public journal, “friended” you on Myspace and Facebook, and seen all of your TV specials and appearances and a part of me expected you to perform a lot of old, recycled jokes but that didn’t happen. I was surprised about how fresh your material was (you’ve been holding out on us for years!) I was also surprised about how open and honest you were about your life. For the other, non-Mike Birbiglia readers out there, Mike speaks a lot about his personal issues, including his difficulty with R.E.M. behavioral disorder, relationship issues, anger issues, etc. and there was not a moment of awkwardness during these moments. (Back to Mike) You were not ashamed or embarrassed to talk about anything you did in the past, and I feel that audience appreciated that. Whenever you told a potentially humiliating story, you were able to bounce right back with a joke to dispel any tension in the room. So no Mike, I do not feel you are the king at “making awkward situations even more awkward.

Based on the articles and television segments on your show, I thought that you would mostly discuss your sleepwalking during the show, but you were brilliantly able to give a biographical monologue of may different aspects of your life and tie every story back into the sleepwalking at the end, well done!

You even included me and my girlfriend in the act (to the slightest degree). If you remember, Mike, I was at the show 4PM show on Sunday, November 23rd, and you were explaining your bear encounter in Alaska. You were demonstrating how you finally faced your fear and “gathered enough courage to tell the guide to do something”…you know the (clap clap) “YA YA YA.” You screamed your last “YA” right in front of us and then opened up your hands and apologized for the not-so-violation of personal space.

I don’t want to give too much about the show away, so I will just encourage all my readers in the New York metro area to see this play. You will NOT be disappointed. As Mike would say, it’s a great moment…like someone giving you pizza. I know times are tough in the economy, and you may only have enough money to see one show this holiday season. But if you see Mike Birbiglia, you will get your money’s worth. I have been laughing to Mike’s jokes for a long time now (I feel like since High School) and he has earned everything he has acheived. I am glad that Nathan Lane decided to produce this show, I hope this finally gets Mike the recognition he deserves. Ira Glass of “This American Life” said of this show, “Catch him before he gets too famous.” He may not be famous yet, but Mike if you would like to leave a comment, you would officially be the most famous person to leave a comment on this blog.