They might as well just forfeit. It would hurt them anything, except maybe Peyton Manning's consecutive start streak, but hey after today its apparent they don't care about anything like that.
And it would be smart. They'd save money from having to fly the team and all the personnel to Buffalo and it wouldn't cost them anything. Plus, they'd be sure not to risk any kind of injuries to anybody. And it would give the Bills, a potential A.F.C. rival, a later pick in the draft. It's win win!
To me it boggles the mind, why you wouldn't try to keep the streak going and try for the perfect season. You could see the fire and desire in Manning's eyes, with his helmet on throughout. I hope if they don't win the Super Bowl, whoever had the final say in this is canned.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Bands that should get back together(Original Members!)
There are always bands breaking up and going on reunion tours. Half the time acts from the 70s and 80s, you see might have two original members at best and are usually playing casino's and other venues that should be way too small for them. I'm looking at you Foreigner.
I'm talking about groups that should get back together and hit the road and studio for new material, with the original members or at least a lineup that was considered its best.
1. The Kinks - This would be my personal fave to see happen. All the principal members are still alive and kicking. With the passing of Pink Floyd's Rick Wright, no other major band of the 60's can make this claim. The Kinks are probably the most underrated band in the history of rock music. They've been called the "quintessential British band" and have the eccentricities and kitschy-ness that make them unique. Although I'm not a die-hard fan, there's just something in their songs and melodies that jump out for me. They go all over the spectrum from their early British Invasion type songs, then into the concept albums and of course one of my favorite songs Lola(It's not a cross-dressing man... or it doesn't have to be). If they would go out on the road again, I'd make it a point to catch them.
2. Van Halen- I'm talking about the 4 original members, not with little Eddie playing bass and making it a Van Halen family affair. For the record I don't mind "Van Hagar." I guess Sammy gives 'em a little more guitar sound if need be. Get Michael Anthony back on bass on their next go round though. I'm not a big fan of the group(Way to overplayed on a local rock station), but it'd be interesting to the lineup...
3. Guns and Roses- And you thought there'd be drama with that one above. I highly doubt they could ever recapture their glory of the late 80s, but if it could last they'd be a blast to see. They weren't a hair band, more a really, really hard rock band, but even before their break-up felt the effects of Nirvana. But Aerosmith came back with a bang after 10 years or so in the dark and fragmented...
4. Alabama- Yeah, they went on a "Farewell Tour" in 2004, but do you honestly expect to never preform together again? Sort of like Brooks & Dunn's farewell for 2010. They will regroup. Hell, Garth Brooks came out and did a run of shows in Kansas City. The boredom, money and sense of camaraderie will come out in time. Just get it done with.
5. The Eagles- They need to get Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner back for a tour. It'd be hard because they don't really seem concerned with making a bunch of more cash like Henley and Frey seem to do. But I'd love to see them return more to their country-rock roots of the first couple of albums. It'd be cool to see them do "Desperado" the album in concert, which seems to be one of the trends these days. They are the forefathers of the music on country radio today after all. You notice they don't stand a chance on any kind of rock stations...
They don't even have to get rid of Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmidt. Willie Nelson has two bass players or I'm sure one could play piano/keyboards or another guitar, while Frey or Leadon plays other instruments at different times. Just lose the other 10 guys they have on stage..
I'm talking about groups that should get back together and hit the road and studio for new material, with the original members or at least a lineup that was considered its best.
1. The Kinks - This would be my personal fave to see happen. All the principal members are still alive and kicking. With the passing of Pink Floyd's Rick Wright, no other major band of the 60's can make this claim. The Kinks are probably the most underrated band in the history of rock music. They've been called the "quintessential British band" and have the eccentricities and kitschy-ness that make them unique. Although I'm not a die-hard fan, there's just something in their songs and melodies that jump out for me. They go all over the spectrum from their early British Invasion type songs, then into the concept albums and of course one of my favorite songs Lola(It's not a cross-dressing man... or it doesn't have to be). If they would go out on the road again, I'd make it a point to catch them.
2. Van Halen- I'm talking about the 4 original members, not with little Eddie playing bass and making it a Van Halen family affair. For the record I don't mind "Van Hagar." I guess Sammy gives 'em a little more guitar sound if need be. Get Michael Anthony back on bass on their next go round though. I'm not a big fan of the group(Way to overplayed on a local rock station), but it'd be interesting to the lineup...
3. Guns and Roses- And you thought there'd be drama with that one above. I highly doubt they could ever recapture their glory of the late 80s, but if it could last they'd be a blast to see. They weren't a hair band, more a really, really hard rock band, but even before their break-up felt the effects of Nirvana. But Aerosmith came back with a bang after 10 years or so in the dark and fragmented...
4. Alabama- Yeah, they went on a "Farewell Tour" in 2004, but do you honestly expect to never preform together again? Sort of like Brooks & Dunn's farewell for 2010. They will regroup. Hell, Garth Brooks came out and did a run of shows in Kansas City. The boredom, money and sense of camaraderie will come out in time. Just get it done with.
5. The Eagles- They need to get Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner back for a tour. It'd be hard because they don't really seem concerned with making a bunch of more cash like Henley and Frey seem to do. But I'd love to see them return more to their country-rock roots of the first couple of albums. It'd be cool to see them do "Desperado" the album in concert, which seems to be one of the trends these days. They are the forefathers of the music on country radio today after all. You notice they don't stand a chance on any kind of rock stations...
They don't even have to get rid of Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmidt. Willie Nelson has two bass players or I'm sure one could play piano/keyboards or another guitar, while Frey or Leadon plays other instruments at different times. Just lose the other 10 guys they have on stage..
Monday, October 26, 2009
Changing fonts constantly. Why?
Why does this thing always want to change Fonts, when I'm in the middle of writing something? And it never edits correctly and I wind up having three different fonts in a post, because it won't change the fonts and sizes even though I change the whole thing. Aggravating...
10/25 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Concert Review
On this rainy Sunday night the Boss returned to St. Louis and the Scottrade Center, a little more than a year after his last appearance at the same venue. Like last year, which was sort of a mixed bag for me, I went with my dad. I wasn't a real big Springsteen fan then and the general consensus was it was the best show of the Magic Tour. Since then I've become a bigger and more familiar Springsteen fan. So how did the Working on A Dream Tour stop go?...
We got there about 40 minutes before the "scheduled" start time of 7:30, but like last year it wasn't anywhere close to starting then. I had better seats, 22 rows back, but right to the side of the stage. A little difficult to see the video screen, but a great view of the Big Man and nice view of seeing the whole band. While waiting we noticed a yellow foam cowboy hat with Cadillac Ranch written on it. I was hoping maybe an early request that might get honored, but alas it wasn't meant to be...
It was a little before 8:30 before Springsteen & Co. took to the stage(Better than last year's hour and a half wait, but still pissed my old man off) with Big Boss Man playing on the loud speakers. About a month ago it was announced that here and other concert stops he'd be playing complete albums in concert and it was Born to Run for St. Louis. Tomorrow night KC gets Born in the U.S.A., a flip of the coin for me, the latter has more friendly songs, but the former has my favorite song... And last year he did play 5 of the songs off Born to Run here...
The opening song was his recently written one about the closing of Giants Stadium, Wrecking Ball. It was alright, maybe its also possible thoughts on the future of the E Street Band...
Like I said I'm a lot more familiar with Bruce now, and overall this was a better experience. He played a few more hits and I recognized a lot more. Heck, except for a few moments during the Born to Run album sequence, the whole night flew by. I couldn't believe it had been three hours...
Set List
Wrecking Ball
Seeds
Prove It All Night
Hungry Heart
Working on a Dream
Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out (with Curt Ramm)
Night
Backstreets
Born to Run
She's the One
Meeting Across the River (with Curt Ramm)
Jungleland
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Working on the Highway
The Promised Land
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Badlands
No Surrender
* * *
For You (solo piano)
Raise Your Hand (instrumental)
Roll Over Beethoven
Surprise, Surprise
Detroit Medley
American Land
Dancing in the Dark
Rosalita (with Curt Ramm)
During Hungry Heart, he made his way to the back of the front GA pit and did his usual crowd surfing back to the stage which was a hoot. His wife, like last year, wasn't with the band. He didn't do much talking except at the very beginning saying "Hey St. Louis!" and he yelled out "How are you doing Sophie?" at one point remembering the sign which read 'Sophie Loves Bruce' from last year, which gave him the push to play one more song, Twist and Shout, last year. And before introducing Born to Run and a little of the history about it and its importance. At the end he gathered Max Weinberg, Clarence Clemons, Garry Tallent, Steven Van Zandt, Roy Bittan and the spirit of the late Danny Federici, acknowledging the men who made the album with him.
Thunder Road was cool to see again, but didn't really get me excited. The second song of the album is my fave and was glad to hear after not getting hit with a Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out last year. That's where it started cooking for me. The drumming of Mighty Max starting Night was simply amazing work and made me appreciate that song more than I normally do. Like last year, he's the driving force and constantly working. Backstreets was a stellar emotional performance, one of the best of the night. Then the house lights came up mid set for usual set closer Born to Run, which had a lot of added jamming. She's the One, not my favorite and while Meeting Across the River and the start of Jungleland was one where everyone sat and you could hear a pin drop, 2-5 songs were the heart of the album performance.
Waitin' on a Sunny Day, Bruce did his usual routine of gathering a little kid to help sing the chorus and the little kid did a heck of a job, and with Bruce's help at the end, shouting out "Take it Big Man!" After that hearing Working on the Highway and No Surrender were treats for the fans. The only songs I couldn't figure out were Seeds and shamefully The Promised Land.
There really wasn't much of a encore break. The gathered after No Surrender and Bruce collected a sign that read "Bruce Play the Piano," which he did while everyone else left the stage. For You was another one where everyone in the arena was quiet. He added some more humor by having trouble with the lyrics(they were on front and back) and getting sound to the piano. It was another good moment, though he did play the song by sign request last year with the whole band...
And once again he picked up a Chuck Berry inspired sign request, "We always get Chuck Berry requests when we play in St. Louis," and played Roll Over Beethoven, "Like We do it on E Street!" which was another blast of the night. After that for a girls fifteenth birthday Surprise, Surprise was played by request. And the final request was for "Devil in A Blue Dress", which turned into the Detroit Medley, another song played last year, but another rocking tune which got everyone cheering, even my dad. Other sign requests not honored I could see and remember were for, A Night with the Jersey Devil (from Sophie), Because the Night, Pink Cadillac, Blinded by the Light, Candy's Room, Mary's Place, Paradise by the "C", and Held Up Without A Gun. Dancing in the Dark not one of my faves, would have much, much rather gotten a Glory Days. But it was fun and house lights up, with Bruce grabbing up several younger women to dance, as well as a woman with a Red Headed Woman sign. And Rosalita brought the rock & roll show to a rollicking ending.
One of the other best moments came during the band intros. When finally getting to Clarence, he added "...Bigger than Shakespeare!" while the Big Man was holding a copy of his new book. Priceless.
Like I said, for me, this was a much better experience(I got to him do my fave song of his!), but to the expectations from last year and the fact that this tour was winding down as well, especially after rave reviews from his recent Philly shows, it probably was disappointing for the really die-hards. I know Backstreets.com echoed this thought in their review, while the Post Dispatch review was quite the opposite. I think the playing of the album cut down on some of the spontaneity and set changing. Plus last year was the penultimate show to the Magic Tour and it was still late summer. I mean the crowd was into it, but after Rosalita, there wasn't a real hard push for "one more." Maybe Bruce just wasn't feeling it tonight, not to mention possibly fighting a cold.
Obviously, there could have been one or two more, another hit some place, but I had a ball. I'm tempted to call in tomorrow and go to KC...
We got there about 40 minutes before the "scheduled" start time of 7:30, but like last year it wasn't anywhere close to starting then. I had better seats, 22 rows back, but right to the side of the stage. A little difficult to see the video screen, but a great view of the Big Man and nice view of seeing the whole band. While waiting we noticed a yellow foam cowboy hat with Cadillac Ranch written on it. I was hoping maybe an early request that might get honored, but alas it wasn't meant to be...
It was a little before 8:30 before Springsteen & Co. took to the stage(Better than last year's hour and a half wait, but still pissed my old man off) with Big Boss Man playing on the loud speakers. About a month ago it was announced that here and other concert stops he'd be playing complete albums in concert and it was Born to Run for St. Louis. Tomorrow night KC gets Born in the U.S.A., a flip of the coin for me, the latter has more friendly songs, but the former has my favorite song... And last year he did play 5 of the songs off Born to Run here...
The opening song was his recently written one about the closing of Giants Stadium, Wrecking Ball. It was alright, maybe its also possible thoughts on the future of the E Street Band...
Like I said I'm a lot more familiar with Bruce now, and overall this was a better experience. He played a few more hits and I recognized a lot more. Heck, except for a few moments during the Born to Run album sequence, the whole night flew by. I couldn't believe it had been three hours...
Set List
Wrecking Ball
Seeds
Prove It All Night
Hungry Heart
Working on a Dream
Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out (with Curt Ramm)
Night
Backstreets
Born to Run
She's the One
Meeting Across the River (with Curt Ramm)
Jungleland
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Working on the Highway
The Promised Land
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Badlands
No Surrender
* * *
For You (solo piano)
Raise Your Hand (instrumental)
Roll Over Beethoven
Surprise, Surprise
Detroit Medley
American Land
Dancing in the Dark
Rosalita (with Curt Ramm)
During Hungry Heart, he made his way to the back of the front GA pit and did his usual crowd surfing back to the stage which was a hoot. His wife, like last year, wasn't with the band. He didn't do much talking except at the very beginning saying "Hey St. Louis!" and he yelled out "How are you doing Sophie?" at one point remembering the sign which read 'Sophie Loves Bruce' from last year, which gave him the push to play one more song, Twist and Shout, last year. And before introducing Born to Run and a little of the history about it and its importance. At the end he gathered Max Weinberg, Clarence Clemons, Garry Tallent, Steven Van Zandt, Roy Bittan and the spirit of the late Danny Federici, acknowledging the men who made the album with him.
Thunder Road was cool to see again, but didn't really get me excited. The second song of the album is my fave and was glad to hear after not getting hit with a Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out last year. That's where it started cooking for me. The drumming of Mighty Max starting Night was simply amazing work and made me appreciate that song more than I normally do. Like last year, he's the driving force and constantly working. Backstreets was a stellar emotional performance, one of the best of the night. Then the house lights came up mid set for usual set closer Born to Run, which had a lot of added jamming. She's the One, not my favorite and while Meeting Across the River and the start of Jungleland was one where everyone sat and you could hear a pin drop, 2-5 songs were the heart of the album performance.
Waitin' on a Sunny Day, Bruce did his usual routine of gathering a little kid to help sing the chorus and the little kid did a heck of a job, and with Bruce's help at the end, shouting out "Take it Big Man!" After that hearing Working on the Highway and No Surrender were treats for the fans. The only songs I couldn't figure out were Seeds and shamefully The Promised Land.
There really wasn't much of a encore break. The gathered after No Surrender and Bruce collected a sign that read "Bruce Play the Piano," which he did while everyone else left the stage. For You was another one where everyone in the arena was quiet. He added some more humor by having trouble with the lyrics(they were on front and back) and getting sound to the piano. It was another good moment, though he did play the song by sign request last year with the whole band...
And once again he picked up a Chuck Berry inspired sign request, "We always get Chuck Berry requests when we play in St. Louis," and played Roll Over Beethoven, "Like We do it on E Street!" which was another blast of the night. After that for a girls fifteenth birthday Surprise, Surprise was played by request. And the final request was for "Devil in A Blue Dress", which turned into the Detroit Medley, another song played last year, but another rocking tune which got everyone cheering, even my dad. Other sign requests not honored I could see and remember were for, A Night with the Jersey Devil (from Sophie), Because the Night, Pink Cadillac, Blinded by the Light, Candy's Room, Mary's Place, Paradise by the "C", and Held Up Without A Gun. Dancing in the Dark not one of my faves, would have much, much rather gotten a Glory Days. But it was fun and house lights up, with Bruce grabbing up several younger women to dance, as well as a woman with a Red Headed Woman sign. And Rosalita brought the rock & roll show to a rollicking ending.
One of the other best moments came during the band intros. When finally getting to Clarence, he added "...Bigger than Shakespeare!" while the Big Man was holding a copy of his new book. Priceless.
Like I said, for me, this was a much better experience(I got to him do my fave song of his!), but to the expectations from last year and the fact that this tour was winding down as well, especially after rave reviews from his recent Philly shows, it probably was disappointing for the really die-hards. I know Backstreets.com echoed this thought in their review, while the Post Dispatch review was quite the opposite. I think the playing of the album cut down on some of the spontaneity and set changing. Plus last year was the penultimate show to the Magic Tour and it was still late summer. I mean the crowd was into it, but after Rosalita, there wasn't a real hard push for "one more." Maybe Bruce just wasn't feeling it tonight, not to mention possibly fighting a cold.
Obviously, there could have been one or two more, another hit some place, but I had a ball. I'm tempted to call in tomorrow and go to KC...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
10/13 Tom Russell at Mojo's in Columbia Concert Review
The very great and under appreciated Tom Russell played at Mojo's Tuesday night in Columbia. He played there last year I believe and I didn't go. Then when I saw on his tour schedule months ago he was going to be at the Blue Note, I started making formulative plans in the back of my mind. Well, it ended up being at Mojo's after it was announced, more on that later...
It was a pretty crappy day and night overall, raining non-stop. After a slight detour to Slacker's to kill some time(and a couple of bought cds), I made it to Mojo's a little after 7 and the show didn't start for an hour, but it took a little while to keep warmed up. I'd never been to Mojo's before, the nickname of being a "little sister" to the Blue Note is pretty accurate. It's even more confined and less space and sort of off the beaten path on the very northern edge of the downtown business district and bordering residential areas. I'm not knocking the venue, but for an artist of Tom Russell's caliber and stature(Grammy winner?) he should have at least been at the Blue Note or Jesse Auditorium or the Missouri Theater...
It made for an "intimate" show though. Heck there's no backstage and the performers came up from behind the audience, which was made of mostly over 40 people with a few gray beards. There was one kid, I saw was a minor without the Bud wristband, with his dad, so I wasn't the youngest person there, minus the staff...
Now, I thought about it there were a few more younger people in the back.
But on to the show, it was a great show. He didn't play the two songs I was most familiar with Gallo del Cielo or Navajo Rug, but I had bought his latest album "Blood and Candle Smoke," and listened to it a couple of times. He ended up playing every song off of the album throughout the evening. He played around two hours with a ten minute intermission. Here's the set list from my memory the order on the songs are probably jumbled
Throughout the night he was loose and enjoying himself, having fun with the crowd. A guy was taking some pictures and he didn't mind, "Do what you need to do," he said. He then joked that they needed security, but after earlier conversations with the staff found out they were sons of hippies, who wouldn't hit anybody...There were at least another dozen moments of hilarity...He also appeared on the Letterman show the night of the infamous sex confession or whatever. And he joked that that he was proud he was responsible for the ratings jump...He was also chiding the audience and others, by saying "Bastards!" frequently.
And he knew the area pretty well, mentioning his next tour stops in K.C., St. Louis and in Mt. Olive, Illinois and mentioning that he was going to be on 88.1 KDHX , a public radio station out of St. Louis. I know my old man always listens to it on Saturday morning/afternoon when he goes to St. Louis, when they are playing acoustic hour, bluegrass, and true country among various things. I know my dad said, Russell appeared as a guest on there last year...
His guitar player, Thad Beckman, was awesome, playing lead parts and some great fills. On the lengthier sorta jam later in the set, he played some hot guitar in various styles such as Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt and someone else. Russell, even chided him that it made up for a few of the earlier mistakes.
To me, Tom Russell, in addition to an uncanny songwriting ability, has one of those great recognizable unique voices, like Van Morrison or Joe Cocker. Just a well played and enjoyed show. After it was over he went to the merchandising area and was signing items for people, still in very cheery spirits and thanking people for coming. I bought one of his cds Love and Fear (cheaper than the record store even) and had him autograph it.
Anyone reading this, I highly recommend listening to some of his work and seeing him in concert, even if he doesn't play his "cowboy" songs as much anymore.
It was a pretty crappy day and night overall, raining non-stop. After a slight detour to Slacker's to kill some time(and a couple of bought cds), I made it to Mojo's a little after 7 and the show didn't start for an hour, but it took a little while to keep warmed up. I'd never been to Mojo's before, the nickname of being a "little sister" to the Blue Note is pretty accurate. It's even more confined and less space and sort of off the beaten path on the very northern edge of the downtown business district and bordering residential areas. I'm not knocking the venue, but for an artist of Tom Russell's caliber and stature(Grammy winner?) he should have at least been at the Blue Note or Jesse Auditorium or the Missouri Theater...
It made for an "intimate" show though. Heck there's no backstage and the performers came up from behind the audience, which was made of mostly over 40 people with a few gray beards. There was one kid, I saw was a minor without the Bud wristband, with his dad, so I wasn't the youngest person there, minus the staff...
Now, I thought about it there were a few more younger people in the back.
But on to the show, it was a great show. He didn't play the two songs I was most familiar with Gallo del Cielo or Navajo Rug, but I had bought his latest album "Blood and Candle Smoke," and listened to it a couple of times. He ended up playing every song off of the album throughout the evening. He played around two hours with a ten minute intermission. Here's the set list from my memory the order on the songs are probably jumbled
- East of Woodstock, West of Viet Nam
- Mississippi River Runnin Backwards
- Nina Simone
- Guadalupe
- Criminology
- Darkness Visible
- Stealing Electricity
- Finding You
- Who's Gonna Build Your Wall
- Don't Look Down
- Santa Ana Wind
- Crosses of San Carlos
- The Most Dangerous Woman in America
- American Rivers
- a spoken poem by Charles Bukowski /poem> That's What Work Is/a story about Dave Van Ronk >Orphan Train
- Blue Wing
- Tower of Song>Pugilist at 59
Throughout the night he was loose and enjoying himself, having fun with the crowd. A guy was taking some pictures and he didn't mind, "Do what you need to do," he said. He then joked that they needed security, but after earlier conversations with the staff found out they were sons of hippies, who wouldn't hit anybody...There were at least another dozen moments of hilarity...He also appeared on the Letterman show the night of the infamous sex confession or whatever. And he joked that that he was proud he was responsible for the ratings jump...He was also chiding the audience and others, by saying "Bastards!" frequently.
And he knew the area pretty well, mentioning his next tour stops in K.C., St. Louis and in Mt. Olive, Illinois and mentioning that he was going to be on 88.1 KDHX , a public radio station out of St. Louis. I know my old man always listens to it on Saturday morning/afternoon when he goes to St. Louis, when they are playing acoustic hour, bluegrass, and true country among various things. I know my dad said, Russell appeared as a guest on there last year...
His guitar player, Thad Beckman, was awesome, playing lead parts and some great fills. On the lengthier sorta jam later in the set, he played some hot guitar in various styles such as Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt and someone else. Russell, even chided him that it made up for a few of the earlier mistakes.
To me, Tom Russell, in addition to an uncanny songwriting ability, has one of those great recognizable unique voices, like Van Morrison or Joe Cocker. Just a well played and enjoyed show. After it was over he went to the merchandising area and was signing items for people, still in very cheery spirits and thanking people for coming. I bought one of his cds Love and Fear (cheaper than the record store even) and had him autograph it.
Anyone reading this, I highly recommend listening to some of his work and seeing him in concert, even if he doesn't play his "cowboy" songs as much anymore.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The Wasted 6 Months, Known as the St. Louis Cardinals season
I know I'm not the only one, sorely disappointed with the St. Louis Cardinals sweep at the hands of the Dodgers in the Divisional series. I'm just trying to figure out where they went wrong... The anemic offense over the last month was the telltale problem. Starting with our All-Star M.V.P. first baseman. Albert Pujols didn't hit a homer for over a month and just seemed to lack his fizzle. Sure he had a good average and some R.B.I.'s, but he was never the same after the All-Star Game.
Or in my eyes after the arrival of Matt Holliday. I think he got too relaxed. Look at the first three months when Rick Ankiel, Chris Duncan and everyone else was in a slump, along with Ryan Ludwick being injured, when he was carrying the team they had some fire. I think that team they fielded in mid-June, with Ryan Ludwick coming around, would have beat the Dodgers and had that underdog fighting spirit.
But just some of Pujols late-season playing and gaffes(Think of the last game in Colorado where he was full running on a one-out pop fly and got doubled off. Never mind the second baseman dropped the ball...). If I was Tony LaRussa, I would have benched him at some point even in the playoffs. Hey, remember Scott Rolen? He might have gotten pissy about it, but you know what? He started hitting better after that. Pujols needed something to light his fire. Either that or bat him lead-off, which would give him more at-bats and if you want to walk him, an early easy base runner to help the offense get going.
Where do the Cards go for next year? They have quite a few free agents, Holliday, Mark DeRosa, Rick Ankiel, John Smoltz, Joel Piniero and Troy Glaus, among others. And the big worry in a few years, when Pujols and Chris Carpenter are up for free agency. Hopefully, they at least get DeRosa back. When he was healthly he was a solid veteran player. And if the price is right even with his gaffe, Holliday is a potential monster. But that play still eats me...
Not to mention the manager might not return. And I think the front office already pissed off the pitching coach.
They've got some solid guys and role players back in Skip Schumaker, Julio Lugo and Brendan Ryan, plus the potential in Colby Rasmus, Blake Hawksworth and Mitchell Boggs.Plus you're one-two starting punch of Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
As for needs? A lead-off hitter, someone who can get on base, with some good speed and score. I think Julio Lugo, could be this guy if he was a little more consistent. I don't think Skip Schumaker is bad, but they need someone who can spark this offense. But unless Holliday doesn't come back, there really isn't a spot for anyone else in the line up, unless they'll be platooned, which I've never been a fan of. Potentially I think if Colby Rasmus can fine-tune his skills and base running, he could be a candidate. Now if him and Ryan would just fix their hat bills...
I'm not sure about a closer. I think Ryan Franklin just picked the worst time to falter in the season. And while he gave up everything else in game two of the series with the Dodgers, his left-fielder blew it. Wait til next season to see...Maybe some minor tweaking to the rest of pen.
I think the starters should be pretty good. Hopefully Lohse will pick up some of his better form next year
The bench actually needs some role players on it. Aside from whichever outfielder and infielder was being platooned, there wasn't much there. I swear anytime Khalil Greene was brought up it was an automatic out.
I guess there's always next year. And unlike the Cubs, the Cards will have an actual chance.
Or in my eyes after the arrival of Matt Holliday. I think he got too relaxed. Look at the first three months when Rick Ankiel, Chris Duncan and everyone else was in a slump, along with Ryan Ludwick being injured, when he was carrying the team they had some fire. I think that team they fielded in mid-June, with Ryan Ludwick coming around, would have beat the Dodgers and had that underdog fighting spirit.
But just some of Pujols late-season playing and gaffes(Think of the last game in Colorado where he was full running on a one-out pop fly and got doubled off. Never mind the second baseman dropped the ball...). If I was Tony LaRussa, I would have benched him at some point even in the playoffs. Hey, remember Scott Rolen? He might have gotten pissy about it, but you know what? He started hitting better after that. Pujols needed something to light his fire. Either that or bat him lead-off, which would give him more at-bats and if you want to walk him, an early easy base runner to help the offense get going.
Where do the Cards go for next year? They have quite a few free agents, Holliday, Mark DeRosa, Rick Ankiel, John Smoltz, Joel Piniero and Troy Glaus, among others. And the big worry in a few years, when Pujols and Chris Carpenter are up for free agency. Hopefully, they at least get DeRosa back. When he was healthly he was a solid veteran player. And if the price is right even with his gaffe, Holliday is a potential monster. But that play still eats me...
Not to mention the manager might not return. And I think the front office already pissed off the pitching coach.
They've got some solid guys and role players back in Skip Schumaker, Julio Lugo and Brendan Ryan, plus the potential in Colby Rasmus, Blake Hawksworth and Mitchell Boggs.Plus you're one-two starting punch of Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
As for needs? A lead-off hitter, someone who can get on base, with some good speed and score. I think Julio Lugo, could be this guy if he was a little more consistent. I don't think Skip Schumaker is bad, but they need someone who can spark this offense. But unless Holliday doesn't come back, there really isn't a spot for anyone else in the line up, unless they'll be platooned, which I've never been a fan of. Potentially I think if Colby Rasmus can fine-tune his skills and base running, he could be a candidate. Now if him and Ryan would just fix their hat bills...
I'm not sure about a closer. I think Ryan Franklin just picked the worst time to falter in the season. And while he gave up everything else in game two of the series with the Dodgers, his left-fielder blew it. Wait til next season to see...Maybe some minor tweaking to the rest of pen.
I think the starters should be pretty good. Hopefully Lohse will pick up some of his better form next year
The bench actually needs some role players on it. Aside from whichever outfielder and infielder was being platooned, there wasn't much there. I swear anytime Khalil Greene was brought up it was an automatic out.
I guess there's always next year. And unlike the Cubs, the Cards will have an actual chance.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Jamey Johnson 9/15 Concert Review at the Blue Note
3 hours of country music. Well, a little rock and roll in there too. But 38 songs by my count and arguably the greatest concert I've been too. I thought about writing the songs down on my ticket envelope, but didn't start and am glad I didn't. I wouldn't have had room...Unless I can find some other set list, I don't have a clue to everything that was played....But here goes my review
I got a little behind after trying to decide where to eat and finding Quizno's wasn't open, so I ended with a parking spot fairly far away. I read today on the website that the concert was a sell-out and when I got there at a little past seven, the line was all the way through the alley and into 8th Street. So, it wasn't until 7:30 that I finally got inside, but the opening act didn't start until 8:15.
This was the most rednecks I've ever seen grouped together. The opening act Josh Thompson played them into his hand playing upon the usual stereotypes of country/cowboy/redneck/etc living. The first two songs he played, both pretty decent, named dropped Johnny Cash and Waylon respectively. The second called Blame it on Waylon, was segued at the end with Lonesome, On'ry and Mean. He started to lose the crowd by the middle of his set, consisting of 8 songs for around half an hour or a little more..
There was about a half hour gap, with the roadies and techs setting everything up, before Jamey and his band came out. They opened with High Cost of Living, it and the next 3 or so songs sounded to loud to me. By Mowin' Down the Roses it got better. On the early numbers the group did a lot of vamping and just jamming on for awhile, the later numbers weren't as drawn out...
I have both his major released cds, but haven't listened to them as much as I should have, but not super familiar with a lot of the tracks. But now I'm going to have to, That Lonesome Song and Women, were great songs.
Jamey didn't say much in the first part of the show, other than a "How are you all doing?" and asking us if we knew the words to the final verse of In Color. But that changed towards the middle and end....
There were no less than five bras, thrown up on stage and decorated on guitars and speakers at one point or another. One landed right on top of Jamey's guitar. And the other cool thing was it looked like there was a cat fight or something down in the G.A. pit. From what I could tell up in the balcony it looked like a big bouncer picked somebody up and took them out the side door. And then it looked like someone else was charging after them wanting a piece of them. I could be wrong but that's what it looked like...
And then came the covers, off the top of my head in no particular order, Amanda, Dreaming My Dreams With You, A Country State of Mind, Old Habits, For the Good Times, Set Em Up Joe, That's The Way Love Goes, Midnight Rider, Turn the Page, Take This Job and Shove It, and Are the Good Times Really Over For Good ? By no means was this all of them, hard telling how many others I didn't know... But on Are the Good Times, he changed some of it around for humorous effects("Clinton, lied to us all on tv," while mimicking a smoking motion, pot or cigar your choice). I think it's obvious the showing of Jamey's influences here and for this night the greatest country bar band in the world.
By the mid-point he commented, "We'll play all fucking night as long as you all stay," which of course led to raucous cheers. And a large amount of people stayed for the duration. He made similar comments about staying and the funniest was "Let fucking Kanye West, try to take my microphone from me...I'm no fucking Taylor Swift!"
And he told us that country radio had dropped his latest single and related that "(He'll) play all damn night, because it might be the last time he comes to Columbia, Missouri...I don't care if radio doesn't like me, it's you all out there that I care about." There was some good anti-Nashville songs in there too, one was along the lines of 'Write your own songs, then.'
He also played his minor hit from a few years ago The Dollar. And he played a new song called Heaven Bound that was pretty good. One about being in this honky tar bar was another that was a hoot, but can't remember much else..
The final two songs were Between Jennings and Jones and the one I most hoped he'd play Give It Away, which had some great add ins at the end "Got a big house...2 or 3 women... a couple ACMs and CMA's... George Strait knows who I am...radio dropped my single today..." before the finale of the song. Then at 12:15, the show was over..
Just a kick ass show and this is only the stuff I can remember. I don't how much of this was done on the fly and how much was planned. The cynic in me knows that the latter has to have a lot of it, but to me it seemed like a lot of times the band was just waiting to see what Jamey was going to start singing. I got some pics, using my dad's camera, some actually looked half-way decent. I also did some video, but I think I didn't hit the record audio button, so it looks like just silent action...
After I started to leave and drove a little, I decided to go back and get a t-shirt. Thankfully they were still clearing people out and I picked up a souvenir of the evening.
I'll probably add stuff as I remember or see other things that jog my memory. But what a show...
EDIT: Here are a couple of set lists from db.etree and a blog to give an idea of what he played and order wise, but again he played a lot longer than either of those.
I got a little behind after trying to decide where to eat and finding Quizno's wasn't open, so I ended with a parking spot fairly far away. I read today on the website that the concert was a sell-out and when I got there at a little past seven, the line was all the way through the alley and into 8th Street. So, it wasn't until 7:30 that I finally got inside, but the opening act didn't start until 8:15.
This was the most rednecks I've ever seen grouped together. The opening act Josh Thompson played them into his hand playing upon the usual stereotypes of country/cowboy/redneck/etc living. The first two songs he played, both pretty decent, named dropped Johnny Cash and Waylon respectively. The second called Blame it on Waylon, was segued at the end with Lonesome, On'ry and Mean. He started to lose the crowd by the middle of his set, consisting of 8 songs for around half an hour or a little more..
There was about a half hour gap, with the roadies and techs setting everything up, before Jamey and his band came out. They opened with High Cost of Living, it and the next 3 or so songs sounded to loud to me. By Mowin' Down the Roses it got better. On the early numbers the group did a lot of vamping and just jamming on for awhile, the later numbers weren't as drawn out...
I have both his major released cds, but haven't listened to them as much as I should have, but not super familiar with a lot of the tracks. But now I'm going to have to, That Lonesome Song and Women, were great songs.
Jamey didn't say much in the first part of the show, other than a "How are you all doing?" and asking us if we knew the words to the final verse of In Color. But that changed towards the middle and end....
There were no less than five bras, thrown up on stage and decorated on guitars and speakers at one point or another. One landed right on top of Jamey's guitar. And the other cool thing was it looked like there was a cat fight or something down in the G.A. pit. From what I could tell up in the balcony it looked like a big bouncer picked somebody up and took them out the side door. And then it looked like someone else was charging after them wanting a piece of them. I could be wrong but that's what it looked like...
And then came the covers, off the top of my head in no particular order, Amanda, Dreaming My Dreams With You, A Country State of Mind, Old Habits, For the Good Times, Set Em Up Joe, That's The Way Love Goes, Midnight Rider, Turn the Page, Take This Job and Shove It, and Are the Good Times Really Over For Good ? By no means was this all of them, hard telling how many others I didn't know... But on Are the Good Times, he changed some of it around for humorous effects("Clinton, lied to us all on tv," while mimicking a smoking motion, pot or cigar your choice). I think it's obvious the showing of Jamey's influences here and for this night the greatest country bar band in the world.
By the mid-point he commented, "We'll play all fucking night as long as you all stay," which of course led to raucous cheers. And a large amount of people stayed for the duration. He made similar comments about staying and the funniest was "Let fucking Kanye West, try to take my microphone from me...I'm no fucking Taylor Swift!"
And he told us that country radio had dropped his latest single and related that "(He'll) play all damn night, because it might be the last time he comes to Columbia, Missouri...I don't care if radio doesn't like me, it's you all out there that I care about." There was some good anti-Nashville songs in there too, one was along the lines of 'Write your own songs, then.'
He also played his minor hit from a few years ago The Dollar. And he played a new song called Heaven Bound that was pretty good. One about being in this honky tar bar was another that was a hoot, but can't remember much else..
The final two songs were Between Jennings and Jones and the one I most hoped he'd play Give It Away, which had some great add ins at the end "Got a big house...2 or 3 women... a couple ACMs and CMA's... George Strait knows who I am...radio dropped my single today..." before the finale of the song. Then at 12:15, the show was over..
Just a kick ass show and this is only the stuff I can remember. I don't how much of this was done on the fly and how much was planned. The cynic in me knows that the latter has to have a lot of it, but to me it seemed like a lot of times the band was just waiting to see what Jamey was going to start singing. I got some pics, using my dad's camera, some actually looked half-way decent. I also did some video, but I think I didn't hit the record audio button, so it looks like just silent action...
After I started to leave and drove a little, I decided to go back and get a t-shirt. Thankfully they were still clearing people out and I picked up a souvenir of the evening.
I'll probably add stuff as I remember or see other things that jog my memory. But what a show...
EDIT: Here are a couple of set lists from db.etree and a blog to give an idea of what he played and order wise, but again he played a lot longer than either of those.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Killin' Nazi's: A Review of Inglourious Basterds
I went and saw Inglourious Basterds the other night, figuring I'd do something fun over my three day weekend other than sitting at home. And it was a blast, one of the best rides of cinema I've seen in awhile. SPOILERS, naturally throughout the course of this post.
The main thing I thought of when I left was , "Wow, it was over that quick?" For two and a half hours it flew by. The only part that slowed it down was the opening part, which was still entertaining but did go kind of slow. The movie was divided into five parts or chapters. We meet the young Jewish girl who escapes the SS in occupied France, then we meet Lt. Aldo Raine and the Basterds, and a British officer who's to help with plots, over the chapters, before leading up to the climax.
I've read other reviews and articles where it mentions the film owes as much to Spaghetti westerns as it does World War II dangerous mission flicks(a la the Dirty Dozen, Von Ryan's Express, etc). Hell it felt just as more like a Ocean's Eleven caper flick or something too. But a Ocean's Eleven caper flick in World War II directed by Quentin Tarantino off course. You know there's going to be blood and people were going to die. You just didn't know if everyone was or not...
Brad Pitt was a hoot as Aldo Raine. It seemed more like a caricature being portrayed than acting, but you gotta love the consistency and hilariousness of one-dimensional quest for getting the job done. To me he was more of an American Cowboy or outlaw type hero. He followed his own rules, had no qualms about killing in cold blood and just his brashness that showed American know how and superiority.
The funniest part for me was when they decided to continue with the mission and act like Italians. "I don't speak any Italian." "Like I said, third best. Just keep your fuckin' mouth shut. In fact why don't you start practicing, right now." And then in the theatre in the midst of Nazi's, just a horrible not even hiding his thick Southern accent with his "Bonjouro's" and "Arrevedeci."
Without just rehashing the plot, but the other cool thing and the big SPOILER. Is that the group actually manages to help pull off the task, offing Hitler, Gobbels and the other top Nazis making some other reality. You gotta admire Tarantino for this, there's all sorts of Hitler survived tales out there, but off the top of my head this is the first or at least best one that show Hitler getting offed(well that doesn't involve time travel sci-fi elements) before his actual demise.
At the end Raine does his trademark with his knife, in carving a swastika into the head of a German solider. After all after the war, how are they going to tell who was a Nazi when they don't have their uniforms on.
Anyway, watch this movie when you can.
Addendum- The weirdest thing for me about seeing this, was before I got in. They checked me for I.D.?! I'm 25 and hadn't shaved for three or four days, do I look that young. I remember when I used to buy smokes for people after I turned 18, I'd done it 10-12 times before they actually checked my I.D. I know I've bought alcohol before without being checked.
The main thing I thought of when I left was , "Wow, it was over that quick?" For two and a half hours it flew by. The only part that slowed it down was the opening part, which was still entertaining but did go kind of slow. The movie was divided into five parts or chapters. We meet the young Jewish girl who escapes the SS in occupied France, then we meet Lt. Aldo Raine and the Basterds, and a British officer who's to help with plots, over the chapters, before leading up to the climax.
I've read other reviews and articles where it mentions the film owes as much to Spaghetti westerns as it does World War II dangerous mission flicks(a la the Dirty Dozen, Von Ryan's Express, etc). Hell it felt just as more like a Ocean's Eleven caper flick or something too. But a Ocean's Eleven caper flick in World War II directed by Quentin Tarantino off course. You know there's going to be blood and people were going to die. You just didn't know if everyone was or not...
Brad Pitt was a hoot as Aldo Raine. It seemed more like a caricature being portrayed than acting, but you gotta love the consistency and hilariousness of one-dimensional quest for getting the job done. To me he was more of an American Cowboy or outlaw type hero. He followed his own rules, had no qualms about killing in cold blood and just his brashness that showed American know how and superiority.
The funniest part for me was when they decided to continue with the mission and act like Italians. "I don't speak any Italian." "Like I said, third best. Just keep your fuckin' mouth shut. In fact why don't you start practicing, right now." And then in the theatre in the midst of Nazi's, just a horrible not even hiding his thick Southern accent with his "Bonjouro's" and "Arrevedeci."
Without just rehashing the plot, but the other cool thing and the big SPOILER. Is that the group actually manages to help pull off the task, offing Hitler, Gobbels and the other top Nazis making some other reality. You gotta admire Tarantino for this, there's all sorts of Hitler survived tales out there, but off the top of my head this is the first or at least best one that show Hitler getting offed(well that doesn't involve time travel sci-fi elements) before his actual demise.
At the end Raine does his trademark with his knife, in carving a swastika into the head of a German solider. After all after the war, how are they going to tell who was a Nazi when they don't have their uniforms on.
Anyway, watch this movie when you can.
Addendum- The weirdest thing for me about seeing this, was before I got in. They checked me for I.D.?! I'm 25 and hadn't shaved for three or four days, do I look that young. I remember when I used to buy smokes for people after I turned 18, I'd done it 10-12 times before they actually checked my I.D. I know I've bought alcohol before without being checked.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Matt Holliday National League M.V.P.?!
With all of the talking heads insisting that whoever wins the Most Valuable Player award in Major League Baseball, must be on a playoff team(a thought I feel is normally ridiculous) and should be which player has the impact numbers wise for his team.
So, in that instance shouldn't Matt Holliday be the front runner for National League M.V.P. award? Look at the all the important numbers since he came to the Cardinals in late July. He's been on a tear, racking up super numbers even with Mr. Pujols around. And most importantly look at the team's win-loss record since his arrival. He has had the most impact solidly helping push his team into October.
Granted, the man hitting in front of him is no slouch when it comes to it. The first three months he single-handidly carried this team, putting them in first place. But he's seemed to relax too much since his "protection" has arrived and his numbers have jumped down scores. But still shouldn't Matt Holliday get some respect for this award?
So, in that instance shouldn't Matt Holliday be the front runner for National League M.V.P. award? Look at the all the important numbers since he came to the Cardinals in late July. He's been on a tear, racking up super numbers even with Mr. Pujols around. And most importantly look at the team's win-loss record since his arrival. He has had the most impact solidly helping push his team into October.
Granted, the man hitting in front of him is no slouch when it comes to it. The first three months he single-handidly carried this team, putting them in first place. But he's seemed to relax too much since his "protection" has arrived and his numbers have jumped down scores. But still shouldn't Matt Holliday get some respect for this award?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Do they still play the Blues in Chicago, when baseball season rolls around?
10 and a half games out?
Completely
Useless
By
September
Completely
Useless
By
September
Thursday, August 27, 2009
8/23 Steve Earle Concert Review
Steve Earle brought his solo acoustic show to the Blue Note, in Columbia, Sunday night. I got there around 7, which was the time the doors opened, but nothing started til 8. And the general admission was all seating so I could have had more free time... But apparently they had some problems getting people seated, Ticketmaster sold the seats different than they thought. So it took a little while to get it sorted out, but I wasn't going anywhere. Basically I had to switch sides from where I thought I was, 6 rows back on the far right...
Finally, Steve's wife, Allison Moorer came out at 8. A really beautiful lady with a gorgeous voice. Why she's not blasted over country radio is beyond me... Just her and an acoustic. She had a harmonica with holder on the first song, but kept falling out of place, making her yell out, "Shit!" She preformed seven songs for around half an hour. I think she played Alabama Song, but I'm not really familiar with her. But she was really talented and entertaining.
Then around 9, Mr. Earle came out. I'm not really a big fan of his the only songs I really knew were Copperhead Road and Guitar Town. I think it was just the fact he was coming to Columbia, I thought I was going to have an easy night off work and it was a solo acoustic performance.
Set List
Where I Lead Me
Colorado Girl
Rex's Blues
Ft. Worth Blues
Pancho and Lefty
Brand New Companion
Tom Ames' Prayer
My Old Friend the Blues
Someday
Taneytown
Goodbye
Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold
Marie
City of Immigrants
Days Aren't Long Enough
Dixieland
Jerusalem
The Mountain
Lungs
To Live Is To Fly
------------
Guitar Town
Copperhead Road
He was pretty cool with his stories. He was touring behind his album of Townes Van Zandt covers and telling of the stories of his friend/teacher/mentor. You can tell the impact he had on Steve Earle. When he introduced Pancho and Lefty, he said, "I had 28 songs I had to narrow down to 15, but I knew where to start." He then went to a parable, "On your first day in prison, they say you find the biggest motherfucker in the yard and knock him out..." He was also humorous throughout.
Earle got political a couple of times. Once before Jerusalem going on against Obama and the Iraq War, then before The Mountain against clean coal technology(which is a pretty nasty business no matter which way you cut it). But every with a somber tone to the concert, he was pretty upbeat with his attitude.
Highlights for me included City of Immigrants where Moorer came out and joined him midway through. She dueted with him on the next song as well. Dixieland was good he was playing a mandolin here. He also played a bouzouki, a banjo-like instrument on a number, which he warned at airports to just say is a banjo. I've heard My Old Friend the Blues before as well after I started hearing it and I had listened to The Mountain album recently so I enjoyed The Mountain as well. To Live is To Fly was rousing for the ultimate song in the main set. The encores were feet stamping joys as expected.
Not writing this immediately afterwards, makes me hazy on other thoughts on songs. But here's a review from a KC show . Kind of disappointed that it looked like he told the same stories he told in Columbia, making it a paint-by-numbers sort of thing. The review gets some of the feelings on the songs played.
But just the warmth and excitedness he had while performing made it seem unique. He actually cared and not just phoning it in with the hokeyness that some artists do.
Finally, Steve's wife, Allison Moorer came out at 8. A really beautiful lady with a gorgeous voice. Why she's not blasted over country radio is beyond me... Just her and an acoustic. She had a harmonica with holder on the first song, but kept falling out of place, making her yell out, "Shit!" She preformed seven songs for around half an hour. I think she played Alabama Song, but I'm not really familiar with her. But she was really talented and entertaining.
Then around 9, Mr. Earle came out. I'm not really a big fan of his the only songs I really knew were Copperhead Road and Guitar Town. I think it was just the fact he was coming to Columbia, I thought I was going to have an easy night off work and it was a solo acoustic performance.
Set List
Where I Lead Me
Colorado Girl
Rex's Blues
Ft. Worth Blues
Pancho and Lefty
Brand New Companion
Tom Ames' Prayer
My Old Friend the Blues
Someday
Taneytown
Goodbye
Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold
Marie
City of Immigrants
Days Aren't Long Enough
Dixieland
Jerusalem
The Mountain
Lungs
To Live Is To Fly
------------
Guitar Town
Copperhead Road
He was pretty cool with his stories. He was touring behind his album of Townes Van Zandt covers and telling of the stories of his friend/teacher/mentor. You can tell the impact he had on Steve Earle. When he introduced Pancho and Lefty, he said, "I had 28 songs I had to narrow down to 15, but I knew where to start." He then went to a parable, "On your first day in prison, they say you find the biggest motherfucker in the yard and knock him out..." He was also humorous throughout.
Earle got political a couple of times. Once before Jerusalem going on against Obama and the Iraq War, then before The Mountain against clean coal technology(which is a pretty nasty business no matter which way you cut it). But every with a somber tone to the concert, he was pretty upbeat with his attitude.
Highlights for me included City of Immigrants where Moorer came out and joined him midway through. She dueted with him on the next song as well. Dixieland was good he was playing a mandolin here. He also played a bouzouki, a banjo-like instrument on a number, which he warned at airports to just say is a banjo. I've heard My Old Friend the Blues before as well after I started hearing it and I had listened to The Mountain album recently so I enjoyed The Mountain as well. To Live is To Fly was rousing for the ultimate song in the main set. The encores were feet stamping joys as expected.
Not writing this immediately afterwards, makes me hazy on other thoughts on songs. But here's a review from a KC show . Kind of disappointed that it looked like he told the same stories he told in Columbia, making it a paint-by-numbers sort of thing. The review gets some of the feelings on the songs played.
But just the warmth and excitedness he had while performing made it seem unique. He actually cared and not just phoning it in with the hokeyness that some artists do.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Retro Review- Shooter Jennings 10/10/2006 at the Blue Note
Here's an old review I posted in an online forum, of a previous Shooter Jennings show about three years ago. Copied pretty much from a couple of posts with some editing.
It was great show overall. I went with my mom who ordered the
tickets and went because my dad had to something else. The blue note
had something going on earlier where there were tons of girls coming
out. We got in about 9:15 and Bang Bang Bang didn't start until about
9:50 or so. They played about 10 songs for forty to fifty minutes.
They didn't sound bad but I had no clue what the singer was singing
or even saying. They have a rock sound with the first few sounding
like gritty rockabilly. And like I said I couldn't understand
him very well, but it sounded like one of the their songs was
called 'Nashville' either written by or with Shooter.
After 20 or 30 minutes Shooter and the guys finally came out. And
they were great. After reading other reviews I was still somewhat
cynical or still tried to be open minded about their performance.
But they rocked out. Even the harder rocking songs I enjoyed and
don't really listen to them as much on the records.
Highlights for me were my favorite song Solid Country Gold.
Shooter doing the solo acoustic 4th of July before the rest of the
band joins in on the countryfied version with Leroy on the steel. One
of the funniest moments came during Manifesto #1 when he got to
the "kiss my ass goodbye" line, the crowd yelled out the line during
the pause and he kinda gave a WTH look or surprise and then sung the
line. Crowd was mostly filled with young college kids with the
combination of young drunken rednecks from the area. Both in some
cases...
I went around out back after the show to try and meet Shooter.
There is no 'backstage' at the Blue Note, just a curtain on the
stage and a door. I waited a few minutes before overhearing that
he'd already gone and only the drummer was left, and Shooter had
left very quickly. If I didn't have my mom with me I would have hung
out a little longer or found the bus and would have tried waiting a
little more. The only really down part of the evening I guess. I
also bought one of the Don't Cuss the Country shirt before we left.
Set List
Electric Rodeo
Gone to Carolina
Little White Lines
Solid Country Gold
Some Rowdy Women
The Song is Slipping Away
Manifesto #2
4th of July>He Stopped Loving Her Today
Steady at the Wheel
Alligator Chomp
Bad Magick
Freedom to Stay
Manifesto #1
Hair of the Dog
Busted in Baylor County
Daddy's Farm
encore
Ain't Living Long Like This
Southern Comfort
I couldn't tell what song was after Manifesto and before Baylor.
Shooter was on the keyboard. But judging from db.etree site from the
Eugene, OR show it would be It Ain't Easy. But YouTube has a video from the show and its of Hair of the Dog. So either he didn't play It Ain't Easy or The Freedom to Stay...
I haven't really talked to my mom about it to see how she liked the show. We talked in between
and agreed that Bang Bang Bang was loud and undecipherable but we
were both tired on the hour plus drive home. I know she seemed to enjoy
the more country songs and was kinda clapping around. She tends to
like Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, so she probably
wasn't as fond of the rocking parts.
After reading it over again a few other things I forgot to mention.
Along with Manifesto #1, where the crowd sang along, there were quite a
few other times where the crowd was signing along and generally
rocking out.
And there were several tech problems, I know of one where the
keyboard before Bad Magick wasn't right. And a few times where the
tech guy had to come up front and do something. So maybe that was a
reason for the quick exit.
It was great show overall. I went with my mom who ordered the
tickets and went because my dad had to something else. The blue note
had something going on earlier where there were tons of girls coming
out. We got in about 9:15 and Bang Bang Bang didn't start until about
9:50 or so. They played about 10 songs for forty to fifty minutes.
They didn't sound bad but I had no clue what the singer was singing
or even saying. They have a rock sound with the first few sounding
like gritty rockabilly. And like I said I couldn't understand
him very well, but it sounded like one of the their songs was
called 'Nashville' either written by or with Shooter.
After 20 or 30 minutes Shooter and the guys finally came out. And
they were great. After reading other reviews I was still somewhat
cynical or still tried to be open minded about their performance.
But they rocked out. Even the harder rocking songs I enjoyed and
don't really listen to them as much on the records.
Highlights for me were my favorite song Solid Country Gold.
Shooter doing the solo acoustic 4th of July before the rest of the
band joins in on the countryfied version with Leroy on the steel. One
of the funniest moments came during Manifesto #1 when he got to
the "kiss my ass goodbye" line, the crowd yelled out the line during
the pause and he kinda gave a WTH look or surprise and then sung the
line. Crowd was mostly filled with young college kids with the
combination of young drunken rednecks from the area. Both in some
cases...
I went around out back after the show to try and meet Shooter.
There is no 'backstage' at the Blue Note, just a curtain on the
stage and a door. I waited a few minutes before overhearing that
he'd already gone and only the drummer was left, and Shooter had
left very quickly. If I didn't have my mom with me I would have hung
out a little longer or found the bus and would have tried waiting a
little more. The only really down part of the evening I guess. I
also bought one of the Don't Cuss the Country shirt before we left.
Set List
Electric Rodeo
Gone to Carolina
Little White Lines
Solid Country Gold
Some Rowdy Women
The Song is Slipping Away
Manifesto #2
4th of July>He Stopped Loving Her Today
Steady at the Wheel
Alligator Chomp
Bad Magick
Freedom to Stay
Manifesto #1
Hair of the Dog
Busted in Baylor County
Daddy's Farm
encore
Ain't Living Long Like This
Southern Comfort
I couldn't tell what song was after Manifesto and before Baylor.
Shooter was on the keyboard. But judging from db.etree site from the
Eugene, OR show it would be It Ain't Easy. But YouTube has a video from the show and its of Hair of the Dog. So either he didn't play It Ain't Easy or The Freedom to Stay...
I haven't really talked to my mom about it to see how she liked the show. We talked in between
and agreed that Bang Bang Bang was loud and undecipherable but we
were both tired on the hour plus drive home. I know she seemed to enjoy
the more country songs and was kinda clapping around. She tends to
like Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, so she probably
wasn't as fond of the rocking parts.
After reading it over again a few other things I forgot to mention.
Along with Manifesto #1, where the crowd sang along, there were quite a
few other times where the crowd was signing along and generally
rocking out.
And there were several tech problems, I know of one where the
keyboard before Bad Magick wasn't right. And a few times where the
tech guy had to come up front and do something. So maybe that was a
reason for the quick exit.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
8/6 Shooter Jennings Concert Review
Thursday night I saw Shooter Jennings and his band Hierophant(formerly the 357's) at Harrah's VooDoo Lounge in St. Louis. Ended up taking my mom again. My brother couldn't get off of work and my dad was doing stuff. This was my third time seeing the group. First time was in '05 as an opening act for Toby Keith and saw him at the Blue Note in the Fall of '06.
The venue was pretty much just a bar, but kinda unique. The stage was about 8 feet up in the air and the bar was right underneath it. So when people went to get drinks they were closer to the action. I had general admission seats, so my mom thought we were going to have to stand the whole time, but they had chairs set out...
The lights went dim with the Dark Crystal starting to play on the various video screens and the backdrop. The opener was a sci-fi-like environmental warning song. Here's the full set list
Shooter in the last few years has been more of a country rocker or Southern rocker, but he's now going back to his roots with pure rock. The country elements are pretty sparse and the name change of the group is trying to go along with this. I figured I'd have been disappointed in this as I tend to like his country stuff over his harder rock, but the sound worked for me. He mixed in a bunch of new stuff with some of his older stuff and the beats and music were rocking.
Instrument wise, Shooter was either using a Flying V or an SG, only picking up the acoustic once at the end, as well as playing on his keyboard and synth.
I was right in front of Ted Russell Kamp, the bassist, who was smiling all the time and having a blast. Bryan Keeling the drummer, seemed more subdued than before. I didn't see him stand up once. The new guys, who I'm not sure of the name, on guitar and keyboard, were over on the other side, so I didn't pay as much attention to them...
The worst part was probably overall the drunks as always. No, I take that back, Ticketmaster was the worst. Add in all the convenience, facility, service, whatever fees, a $20 ticket cost almost $30 and for two it was the same as three tickets at face value.
I won't ever complain about an artist playing and trying new stuff on the road as it shows they aren't into the same old, same old and still trying out new things musically. But the hardest part was not knowing the words, add it in the with obnoxiousness of the fore mentioned drunks, and trying to follow along. I know the music is supposed to be rock and be loud, but for the newer songs it would have been better if they could have turned up Shooter's voice a little and drop the instruments in the mix some as well. My mom asked me, "Can you understand him better on records?" But when he came back for the encore with just him and an acoustic on Black Ribbons, I couldn't understand with all of the idiots making noise and screaming out "Whooo's!" and "SHOOTER!"
My favorite song of the night was probably The Wolf, I hadn't seen him do any songs off the album of the same name, as I didn't go see him last year at the Montgomery Co. Fair or the year before at the Blue Note. Of the new songs California via Tennessee was the one that sounded the best(that I could comprehend much on). Radio Goes Dead I liked the vibe on as well. The singalong on Manifesto #1 is always a hoot, especially when the audience blurts out "You can kiss my ass goodbye!" line at the very beginning during the pause. And I always like hearing 4th of July even in its full tilt rocking version.
The only one I didn't dig was Outlaw Shit a reworking of one of Waylon's songs done in a slower ballad here. To me the song is too much of an anthem and the pace is all wrong. I did love the coda at the end. If he'd play it full speed then change tempos then do the coda sort of like Layla I think it would work better...
Like I said, I still liked the show. The only other complaint of mine was that it was over too quick, it was only a little over an hour and a half in length. My mom seemed to enjoy it more too this time swaying around to the music, even with it being two or three times louder. Probably cause last time the concert didn't start til 11 PM or so.
To show what a small world it is, some of my 3rd or 4th long distance cousins, who live in the same zip code as us, were at the show too. Their girlfriend even got some of the picks and one of the set lists from the band.
I bought a shirt after it was over. It's of a sci-fi 1930's retro future look hero or something. I was going to wait and see if the guys were going to come down to the bar and mingle with the fans, but they were still packing up equipment and I could tell my mom was getting restless to leave, so we were on our way after that. Took a few pics, but they turned out pretty crappily. Cheaper phone and someone who doesn't have clue what he's doing mainly.HAHAHA!
I think the show at the Blue Note was slightly better, in the material played, but this was a better show for excitement and mood, with not knowing what was coming up.
The venue was pretty much just a bar, but kinda unique. The stage was about 8 feet up in the air and the bar was right underneath it. So when people went to get drinks they were closer to the action. I had general admission seats, so my mom thought we were going to have to stand the whole time, but they had chairs set out...
The lights went dim with the Dark Crystal starting to play on the various video screens and the backdrop. The opener was a sci-fi-like environmental warning song. Here's the full set list
- Wake Up!
- California via Tennessee
- Gone to Carolina
- Steady at the Wheel
- The Breaking Point
- God Bless Alabama
- Manifesto No.1
- Bad Magick
- When the Radio Goes Dead
- Don't Feed the Animals
- The Wolf
- All of this Could've Been Yours
- Outlaw Shit
- 4th of July
- Electric Rodeo
- Black Ribbons
- Daddy's Farm
Shooter in the last few years has been more of a country rocker or Southern rocker, but he's now going back to his roots with pure rock. The country elements are pretty sparse and the name change of the group is trying to go along with this. I figured I'd have been disappointed in this as I tend to like his country stuff over his harder rock, but the sound worked for me. He mixed in a bunch of new stuff with some of his older stuff and the beats and music were rocking.
Instrument wise, Shooter was either using a Flying V or an SG, only picking up the acoustic once at the end, as well as playing on his keyboard and synth.
I was right in front of Ted Russell Kamp, the bassist, who was smiling all the time and having a blast. Bryan Keeling the drummer, seemed more subdued than before. I didn't see him stand up once. The new guys, who I'm not sure of the name, on guitar and keyboard, were over on the other side, so I didn't pay as much attention to them...
The worst part was probably overall the drunks as always. No, I take that back, Ticketmaster was the worst. Add in all the convenience, facility, service, whatever fees, a $20 ticket cost almost $30 and for two it was the same as three tickets at face value.
I won't ever complain about an artist playing and trying new stuff on the road as it shows they aren't into the same old, same old and still trying out new things musically. But the hardest part was not knowing the words, add it in the with obnoxiousness of the fore mentioned drunks, and trying to follow along. I know the music is supposed to be rock and be loud, but for the newer songs it would have been better if they could have turned up Shooter's voice a little and drop the instruments in the mix some as well. My mom asked me, "Can you understand him better on records?" But when he came back for the encore with just him and an acoustic on Black Ribbons, I couldn't understand with all of the idiots making noise and screaming out "Whooo's!" and "SHOOTER!"
My favorite song of the night was probably The Wolf, I hadn't seen him do any songs off the album of the same name, as I didn't go see him last year at the Montgomery Co. Fair or the year before at the Blue Note. Of the new songs California via Tennessee was the one that sounded the best(that I could comprehend much on). Radio Goes Dead I liked the vibe on as well. The singalong on Manifesto #1 is always a hoot, especially when the audience blurts out "You can kiss my ass goodbye!" line at the very beginning during the pause. And I always like hearing 4th of July even in its full tilt rocking version.
The only one I didn't dig was Outlaw Shit a reworking of one of Waylon's songs done in a slower ballad here. To me the song is too much of an anthem and the pace is all wrong. I did love the coda at the end. If he'd play it full speed then change tempos then do the coda sort of like Layla I think it would work better...
Like I said, I still liked the show. The only other complaint of mine was that it was over too quick, it was only a little over an hour and a half in length. My mom seemed to enjoy it more too this time swaying around to the music, even with it being two or three times louder. Probably cause last time the concert didn't start til 11 PM or so.
To show what a small world it is, some of my 3rd or 4th long distance cousins, who live in the same zip code as us, were at the show too. Their girlfriend even got some of the picks and one of the set lists from the band.
I bought a shirt after it was over. It's of a sci-fi 1930's retro future look hero or something. I was going to wait and see if the guys were going to come down to the bar and mingle with the fans, but they were still packing up equipment and I could tell my mom was getting restless to leave, so we were on our way after that. Took a few pics, but they turned out pretty crappily. Cheaper phone and someone who doesn't have clue what he's doing mainly.HAHAHA!
I think the show at the Blue Note was slightly better, in the material played, but this was a better show for excitement and mood, with not knowing what was coming up.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Neil Young 4/30 Concert Review
I went and saw Neil Young Thursday night with the old man in Kansas City at the Sprint Center. Originally was supposed to be Nov 4th last year on election day but it got postponed. And they cut down the seating so they had to readjust my seats. Still got pretty decent overall. Sprint Center's a pretty big monster and quite new space age looking. The worst part was the fact that I'd only had three hours of sleep at most...
Show started at Seven with two opening acts. The first was a band called Everest. They weren't bad, but nothing super spectacular. The lead singer sounded like Bono to me... Had a pretty good sound, but there was one or two too many guys in the group. They played for 30 minutes or so.
Then came the Neville Brothers for 4o minutes. I wasn't real impressed with them. The first song was good, but the rest all seemed the same. Not that much of jazz/funk fan. My dad said they didn't even do Aaron Neville's big hit "Tell It Like It Is."
Finally a little after 9 Neil and his band came on. When I saw him two years ago at the Fox in St. Louis he was solo for the first half, then had the band behind him in the second half. Here they were with him the whole time.About two hours and fifteen minutes of Rock n Roll action. Here's the set list.
Love and Only Love
When You Dance I Can Really Love
Fuel Line
Are You Ready for the Country?
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Pocahantas
Change Your Mind
Cinnamon Girl
Mother Earth
The Needle and the Damage Done
Light a Candle
Heart of Gold
Feel Your Love
Old Man
Hit the Road
Speakin' Out
Tonight's the Night
Down By the River
Get Behind the Wheel
Just Singing a Song
---------------------
A Day in the Life
I'd purposely avoided looking at any of his previous shows to see what he was playing this go around. And I'm glad I did as there were several surprises. In the second spot was "When You Dance I Can Really Love", off of After the Gold Rush. And a couple of songs later "Are You Ready For the Country?" As soon as I picked it up when he started pounded on those piano keys I knew it was going to be a great show.
He was playing a lot of material from his new album, Fork in the Road. They were all right, I thought "Just Singing a Song," was good but maybe not in the ultimate slot in the setlist. I know some of the reviews were ragging on them, but there were about the same as some of his other songs that he played that aren't as well known.
Starting with "Mother Earth" he moved from electric to acoustic mode. Here he preformed the Greatest Hits portion, which was...well, great! Even the new song "Light a Candle" and the 'kind of an obscure CSN&Y song, "Feel Your Love" sounded awesome. Then after "Old Man" it was back to the hard grunge rock style.
Young is Jekyll and Hyde. Morphing one minute into the acoustic country folk style after a blazing 15 minute long guitar jam with distortion, high energy and completely turning away from the audience.
Neil didn't talk as much to the audience this time. I think the first time he talked, he apologized for the postponement. He did a little intro the CSN&Y song and he introduced his band, but other than a couple "How are you doin's?" he was pretty quiet.
The crowd was sort of laconic. Before exiting, Chad Cromwell, the drummer, asked, "if we needed caffeine?" Maybe it was the four hours of being there or something, but they were definitely low key. He also had a guy painting on a canvas on an easel. Don't really know why or what he was painting. Just part of the stage I guess. His whole stage setup continued the garage theme.
The only other bad things? The guitar jams can get a little tedious with so many long ones, but that's just Neil. I think its just cool to see a 63 year old up there rocking away. Was sort of surprised we didn't get Rockin' in the Free World. But I looked at some of the previous sets and see he's been mixing it up at every concert on this tour. Usually playing it in the encore, when he does perform it. That was the only thing missing that would have put it over the top.
But we got the Beatles cover, "A Day in the Life," which was good. The fade out of the song is perfect for Neil's style of hard rocking distortion sound. Which culminated with all the strings busted and a note hit on the Xylophone.
Overall, maybe the best concert I've seen. Harder to gauge right after. Still one of the best and no problem with postponing(other than the fact I had to switch shifts at work But that's not his fault). He only played 3 of the same songs he did in St. Louis(and all three were good ones, so it was win-win). I enjoyed the rock songs more too. At the Fox a lot more newer stuff and songs I wasn't as keen on. Here I got a few more "hits" and songs I heard and/or liked more.
I know my dad liked it better. He was cheering and singing along for quite a bit of it. Other reviews here and here
If anyone gets a chance to see him in his current mode, go, it's worth it. Don't know if I will or not. He might have to embark on a solo, with Crazy Horse, big country band or even better with Crosby, Stills and Nash tour and change the format a little.
Show started at Seven with two opening acts. The first was a band called Everest. They weren't bad, but nothing super spectacular. The lead singer sounded like Bono to me... Had a pretty good sound, but there was one or two too many guys in the group. They played for 30 minutes or so.
Then came the Neville Brothers for 4o minutes. I wasn't real impressed with them. The first song was good, but the rest all seemed the same. Not that much of jazz/funk fan. My dad said they didn't even do Aaron Neville's big hit "Tell It Like It Is."
Finally a little after 9 Neil and his band came on. When I saw him two years ago at the Fox in St. Louis he was solo for the first half, then had the band behind him in the second half. Here they were with him the whole time.About two hours and fifteen minutes of Rock n Roll action. Here's the set list.
Love and Only Love
When You Dance I Can Really Love
Fuel Line
Are You Ready for the Country?
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Pocahantas
Change Your Mind
Cinnamon Girl
Mother Earth
The Needle and the Damage Done
Light a Candle
Heart of Gold
Feel Your Love
Old Man
Hit the Road
Speakin' Out
Tonight's the Night
Down By the River
Get Behind the Wheel
Just Singing a Song
---------------------
A Day in the Life
I'd purposely avoided looking at any of his previous shows to see what he was playing this go around. And I'm glad I did as there were several surprises. In the second spot was "When You Dance I Can Really Love", off of After the Gold Rush. And a couple of songs later "Are You Ready For the Country?" As soon as I picked it up when he started pounded on those piano keys I knew it was going to be a great show.
He was playing a lot of material from his new album, Fork in the Road. They were all right, I thought "Just Singing a Song," was good but maybe not in the ultimate slot in the setlist. I know some of the reviews were ragging on them, but there were about the same as some of his other songs that he played that aren't as well known.
Starting with "Mother Earth" he moved from electric to acoustic mode. Here he preformed the Greatest Hits portion, which was...well, great! Even the new song "Light a Candle" and the 'kind of an obscure CSN&Y song, "Feel Your Love" sounded awesome. Then after "Old Man" it was back to the hard grunge rock style.
Young is Jekyll and Hyde. Morphing one minute into the acoustic country folk style after a blazing 15 minute long guitar jam with distortion, high energy and completely turning away from the audience.
Neil didn't talk as much to the audience this time. I think the first time he talked, he apologized for the postponement. He did a little intro the CSN&Y song and he introduced his band, but other than a couple "How are you doin's?" he was pretty quiet.
The crowd was sort of laconic. Before exiting, Chad Cromwell, the drummer, asked, "if we needed caffeine?" Maybe it was the four hours of being there or something, but they were definitely low key. He also had a guy painting on a canvas on an easel. Don't really know why or what he was painting. Just part of the stage I guess. His whole stage setup continued the garage theme.
The only other bad things? The guitar jams can get a little tedious with so many long ones, but that's just Neil. I think its just cool to see a 63 year old up there rocking away. Was sort of surprised we didn't get Rockin' in the Free World. But I looked at some of the previous sets and see he's been mixing it up at every concert on this tour. Usually playing it in the encore, when he does perform it. That was the only thing missing that would have put it over the top.
But we got the Beatles cover, "A Day in the Life," which was good. The fade out of the song is perfect for Neil's style of hard rocking distortion sound. Which culminated with all the strings busted and a note hit on the Xylophone.
Overall, maybe the best concert I've seen. Harder to gauge right after. Still one of the best and no problem with postponing(other than the fact I had to switch shifts at work But that's not his fault). He only played 3 of the same songs he did in St. Louis(and all three were good ones, so it was win-win). I enjoyed the rock songs more too. At the Fox a lot more newer stuff and songs I wasn't as keen on. Here I got a few more "hits" and songs I heard and/or liked more.
I know my dad liked it better. He was cheering and singing along for quite a bit of it. Other reviews here and here
If anyone gets a chance to see him in his current mode, go, it's worth it. Don't know if I will or not. He might have to embark on a solo, with Crazy Horse, big country band or even better with Crosby, Stills and Nash tour and change the format a little.
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