Lemony Snicket finally seems to be remorseful for the sincerely upsetting novels in the Series of Unfortunate Events series. First: his new book, 13 Words, is a charming (upon first glance) picture book about words like goat, hat, convertible, bird, baby, cake and the lonely adjective, despondent. Although Lemony Snicket could almost certainly make these words morose, Maira Kalman’s bright illustrations promise a very different disposition than Unfortunate Events. Second: cake. more ›

• The seventh annual World Championship Corny Dog Eating Competition has a winner! The State Fair of Texas has everything!
• Slackerwood photo set from Fantastic Fest’s opening-night gala-premiere of “Gentlemen Broncos” at the Paramount Theater. (Scroll down for a great shot of the scruffy’n’hip actor Jemaine Clement from .)
• Apparently, being a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader requires the ability to study. (Not so much if you are an actual Dallas Cowboy!)

The more paranoid amongst us might eschew large gatherings of people during this time of Porcine Panic but not Cake. John McCrea, lead singer of the Sacramento alt-country rock band Cake, had his bases covered when he took the oppressively humid stage last night rocking a sensible surgical mask. The bone dry humor wasn't lost on the multitude of die hard fans in attendance, who enjoyed back-to-back sets that spanned the band's entire discography. Seemingly played off the cuff by audience and band member request, the sets were tight and full of the antics and flourishes that elicited nostalgia for the mid 90's atl-rock zenith that long-time Cake fans can remember with the clarity of a Crystal Pepsi. Punctuated by Vince Di Fiore's mariachi trumpet outburst classics like "Sad Songs and Waltzes" and "Italian Leather Sofa" felt robust and polished after years on the road. At one point during the intermission, McCrea took the mic to give away a small tree to any audience member who could accurately guess its variety (Satsuma Orange). The moment, like the evening's set, was classic Cake: a quirky exchange that hinted at deeper issues underneath, namely front man John McCrea's longtime environmental activism (the band recently converted their Sacramento studio to 100% solar power). Fans can look for a new disk by the alt-rock outfit sometime this year. more ›

Remember the California alternative rock band, Cake, who started to chart almost immediately after bursting on the scene in the early 90s with songs like “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle” and then with “The Distance”, “Never There”, and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”? You must, because their show tonight at Stubb’s is sold out. They’ve released a pretty solid string of recordings backed up by large tours like the Unlimited Sunshine Tour, which was a traveling music festival that toured in 2002, ’03, ’06, and ‘07 featuring artists like Modest Mouse, Cheap Trick, Gogol Bordello, The Detroit Cobras. And, although the lineup largely changed every year, Cake was the headliner each time providing the staple topping on this eclectic pastry. In 2008, the band joined the ranks of the eco-conscious with the conversion of their studio, Upbeat Studio, in Sacramento to solar power. So, now the next recording you hear of their funky alt rock with rap-esque vocals, which should be sometime this summer, is going to be completely fueled by the sun. more ›