Chug - Flowers

Chug = the biggest obscurity ever posted about on this blog. I don't even know what to say about them: there's practically no information anywhere. The only information I've found, a mere quote, is wholly inaccurate, or at least in my experience of Chug, which is this one song. "Noisy sludge-filled garage metal:" If I don't want someone to listen to a particular band I'll be sure to use that quote. This song has appeared in several episodes of the show, "X=Why?," "Das Bus," and the episode I featured yesterday, "35 Hours," playing during the Wrigley 500. Though it's near impossible for me to hear these songs objectively and without the Pete & Pete context, I'd describe "Flowers" as lo-fi garage surf punk, if categorization was absolutely necessary. It's an exciting song, perfectly suitable for a bicycle race, but also has an imminent quality to it. You're having a blast at the moment, but soon things will be out of control. In a brilliant way of course. Just don't think you'll be hearing the song's "...Looking for the fucking flowers" chorus anywhere in show.

Chug - Flowers

The Adventures of Pete & Pete Episode 1-10: What We Did On Our Summer Vacation

This Pete & Pete episode was one of the 5 full-length specials made before the show was given the green-light for a full series. Another one of my favorites. I actually have a yearly tradition with this episode where I watch it the day before I head back for classes. If this episode doesn't take you back to the summers of your childhood, I pity you. In it, the two Petes and Ellen attempt to befriend local ice-cream man and hero of all Wellsville's children, Mr. Tastee, after realizing that apart from his customers he's without any real friends. Their concern unfortunately drives Mr. Tastee out of town, much to the dismay of kids everywhere who hear the bells of the Tastee mobile as the most beautiful sound on earth. With the ice cream shortage driving residents to the brink of insanity, the Petes and Ellen begin a strenuous hunt to bring Mr. Tastee back to Wellsville before the summer's end.

The episode features cameos by R.E.M's Michael Stipe as Captain Scrumm, proprietor of the Sludgesickle and the B-52's Kate Pierson as Mrs. Vanderveer, the blind millionaire who once was involved with Mr. Tastee. Another interesting thing to watch out for is the blurred out phone number on the"Have You Seen Mr. Tastee?" flyers. During the special's initial airing, unbeknownst to the creators, the 800-number listed was currently in use by an insurance company. After the company was swarmed by hundreds of calls with kids saying they've seen Mr. Tastee, the number needed to be censored for later airings.

Oh the guy in the Mr. Tastee suit? It's Toby Huss, aka Artie.