Ignite Boulder last night was good fun. Cool presentations, good people. I got to play with slides, too. I gave a presentation called “Everything I need to know about journalism I learned from ‘Ghost Busters.’” Or “Back off, man, I’m a journalist.”

I’m hoping to get video of that eventually to post here. Meantime, thanks to @andrewhyde and @rande for the opportunity and thanks to all of the presenters for the entertainment and/or edification.

Some very funny stuff in there, a couple of eco-minded ones, a video game one. The only thing lacking to make it a comprehensive list of my interests would be football and beer.

@userealbutter’s presentation was the most delicious-looking. And she posted a photo of me with a slide, so I’m brazenly stealing it with a link to her wrap-up post and photos of delicious-looking corn.

I think one of my favorite reactions was this: “who knew journalists were this funny about, well, journalism!”

Makes me want to start hosting small salons or readings or something — like the old days, but with less pressure. I also got inspired by reading about the Boulder Fortnightly Club — Boulder’s 125-year-old women’s literary club. Read all about that in Sunday’s Camera, wouldja?

Or enjoy the music video of the moment after the jump.

A few weeks ago, I started reviewing shows at dailycamera.com. One that I reviewed on Friday was Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Read the full Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros review if you’ve got time, but here is the relevant passage:

They are everything that the Polyphonic Spree should have been. It’s ten people on stage playing and singing their hearts out in some kind of semi-worship of their eccentric frontman, but in this band’s case, the eccentric frontman looks like Jesus and dances like he’s wearing poison ivy underpants.

One of the people who bought in wholesale early in the show? Ebert’s dad. In a mind-blowing turn of events for a show that already felt like a crazypants family affair, during the first song, Ebert waved at someone in the crowd and acknowledged him as his father. As the tall, white-haired man made his way toward the stage, Ebert mysteriously continued: “I’m sorry, Dad,” and they shook hands to kick off the show.

OK, so you’re thinking it sounds like a weird show, and maybe like I’m making some of it up. But then there’s the lone comment on that story:

Thank you, Dave, for checking out this wonderful, intimate venue, and writing such a thoughtful, unique review of the Sharpies and my son Alex. After years of struggle, Alex and I are once again as close as we were when he was in his pre-teens. Hope you get a chance to read his lyrics on their website – full of passion and poetry, just like his performance. An intense, dedicated band indeed! Best regards, Michael

Wow! That’s great. That’s just fantastic.

Now maybe you’re thinking I made that up. Let me tell you — I didn’t. But let’s say that, for the sake of argument, you don’t believe me. Fine. Fine. I’ll let that one go. Because this Sunday I reviewed a few shows at the Monolith Festival. One of the shows was Monotonix, which I’d heard quite a lot about from friends, and sure, I’d watched videos, but I was not prepared for what happened. Again, I really recommend the full Monotonix review, but here’s the relevant passage to this story:

In a few moments, Fershtman would be pounding out a rhythm at the kit, Gat would be chunking away at the same riff and Shalev would be standing, one foot on Fershtman’s seat, one on a railing, one arm on my shoulder to steady himself, his pants pulled down, rubbing his bare, hairy behind on my concert buddy’s chest. (Later, she’d tell me, shuddering, “I saw more of Israel at Monolith than I saw on my trip to Israel.”)

Don’t believe me? Well, if you’re prepared — I mean really prepared — to believe me, check out this photo that someone snapped at the show, featuring said bare, hairy behind. (You’ve been warned. If you clicked a link that said “bare, hairy behind” and did not expect to find exactly that, I don’t know what to tell you.)

Excited for a very Colorado music experience. I’ve never been up to Planet Bluegrass in Lyons, and I’ve certainly never been to the Wildflower Pavilion, but they both sound like places one ought to go, don’t they?

And I’m not sure I can think of a better way to experience them both for the first time than by going to check out these guys:

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
(video after the jump)
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – 40 Day Dream
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Desert Song

I’ve been semi-hooked on their most-promoted track, “Home,” for a few weeks. I’m hoping they get a little weird. That’s where we want to be right now.

We hear that you pay good money to sing into a can.

To clarify: that’s confidence man, rather than convict.

Coolio’s in Boulder today. I don’t think I’ll be stopping by, but I might just make a caprese salad. Coolio and naughty words below:

Yesterday I was feeling kind of like everything is simultaneously epic and silly.

So, yes, the soundtrack of my life could be provided by a “kazookeylele” playing “The Final Countdown.” Here’s an old favorite Web video:

Or, you know, you could listen to something I actually listened to.

Delta Spirit – People C’mon (fun)
Melt Banana – We Will Rock You (noisy and weird)

If I was still in the habit of making a mixtape every month, this would be on it.

Also, I just bought four tapes for my car: ZZ Top’s Afterburner, a Jan & Dean collection, a Bill Haley & His Comets collection and Jane’s Addiction’s Ritual de lo Habitual.

Afterburner is winning so far. Get a load of this weirdness:

Do those guys ever not appear out of nowhere and give people keys to a freakin’ awesome motor vehicle?

Lately, I’ve been tweeting a couple of covers that have made a distinct impact on me. Actually, I think what I said about the first one was that it made me “feel like the world is coming apart.”

I stand by that. The cover in question: Guillemots – Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand cover)

The next cover I found myself attracted to had the exact same effect on me — and I warn you that medical professionals and physicists alike would probably advise against listening to any of these back-to-back — this time, it was Jay Reatard – Gamma Ray (Beck cover)

Got any covers like this for me? Let me know here or @daveburdick

This week in Friday Magazine, we’ve listed all of the places you can watch fireworks in Boulder County and some of the ancillary events. For example, I plan on attending Boulder’s “Sesquicentennial Stroll,” a celebration of the city’s 150th birthday in conjunction with a celebration of all that is red, white and blue.

But last night I found what I am absolutely sure is the best 3rd and 5th of July location in Colorado, and may well be the best 4th spot, too:

Red Rocks.

RC and I went last night to see Wilco — a belated birthday gift for her. As Okkervil River played its opening set, we could see the jaw-dropping backdrop that you expect at Red Rocks: the light green landscape of Denver, the cluster of upward-thrust buildings downtown and other community centers dotting the view.

But as night fell and Wilco came on, Denver area revelers began celebrating the Fourth the best way they know how: by blowing things up. Occasionally in sync with stage movements, fireworks displays across the metro area were easily visible behind the performance. First, something apparantly due east, then something to the south, and several more between. Eventually, they were joined by fireworks downtown, presumably from Coors Field.

To top it off, farther up in the sky, we were treated to a long cloud-to-cloud lightning storm.

That’s three light shows and two alt-country/rock sets.

The A/V guys at Red Rocks really have things figured out.

I challenge you to find a better 4th spot in Colorado. Tonight at Red Rocks, Blues Traveler performs, which I can do without, but the opening set is Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears.

Those Darlins – Red Light Love
Those Darlins – Wild One

What’s going to happen right after work? Like right after work? Well, I’m going to get on my bike, cruise over to my local record shop and pick up the Those Darlins album, that’s what.

T-minus whenever I finish all this stuff. In the meantime, it’s “Red Light Love” and “Wild One” for me.

Recommended beer pairing: Blue Paddle if in Colorado, Kelso pilsner if in New York.

I’ve been without cable or Internet for nearly a week now, so please leave any crucial Internet memes or television moments in the comments.