Rock Me

2007-12-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

R.I.P.

Dan Fogelberg
1951-2007

Dan Fogelberg left us on Sunday, December 16. He was only 56. Cancer took him from us all too soon. I wish I could finish this blog entry as it is already 2 days late, but I can't find the words.

Ever On, Dan........

"You've got to just follow your heart and do your best work," he said. "For better or worse, I have followed my heart. There is no doubt in my mind or heart that everything I've done is exactly what I intended to do." -Dan Fogelberg

2007-11-26T15:04:00.000-08:00

R.I.P.

Kevin Dubrow, lead singer of Quiet Riot was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Sunday, November 25, 2007. Cause of death is not yet known.

Drummer Frankie Banali has posted a message on his website regarding the death of his friend.

I met Kevin briefly in 1994 at a radio gig. He was full of personality & was a lot of fun to hang with. This guy had a set of pipes made for rock! He will certainly be missed.

2007-10-09T09:26:00.001-07:00

New Music Tuesday

Well that’s 4 of 4! Apple has just added the complete George Harrison catalog to iTunes. Over the past year, Apple has also added John, Paul & Ringo with little fanfare. Now you can buy any John, Paul, George or Ringo song…you just can’t buy a Beatles song. ???!!!

All songs are DRM free in George’s catalog. I suggest starting with Thirty Three & 1/3 from 1976. Great seventies groove- can’t miss with this one.

Complete Clapton
Complete is a pretty big statement. Considering this release only has 37 tracks of Clapton’s work, I wouldn’t say it falls under the definition of “complete.” But, if you don’t already own all of Clapton’s work on vinyl (ahem), then for just $25 this is a fine place to start.

Necessary Evil by Debbie Harry
Oh Debbie, what have you done? Formerly an American punk frontrunner, Debbie has gone soft. She still has a great voice at age SIXTY TWO (!!). Still sexy and sultry, but she’s lost the sass she needs to even pass as a pop music artist. This recording comes off as bland and unremarkable and I doubt it will receive much play on even the mushy adult contemporary radio stations. Skip this one.

The Best of Chicago
Try not to confuse this one with The VERY Best of Chicago, Heart of Chicago (both volumes), Greatest Hits 82-89 or Love Songs. This lame repackaging attempt signals to me that Chicago might just be living out a contract with Warner. These are the same, albeit great, songs from Chicago but new cover art, a different track order and slapping the word “remastered” on this package won’t make it sell, folks. If you don’t already own Chicago 1-30 and you are looking to leap into the Chicago sound, this is a decent primer of material. Thirty songs for just $15. Not bad.Famous by Puddle of Mudd
The l-o-n-g awaited album by Puddle of Mudd. The current single “Famous” has been playing on rock radio since May 2007. Leave it to the record companies and lawyers to get in the way of an album releasing on time! This may possibly hurt the CD on the charts since listeners have cooled to the title track while waiting for the CD to drop. We also haven’t heard anything from this band since the 2003 release of “Life on Display.” Hopefully, listeners haven’t forgotten how hard Puddle of Mudd can rock and they’ll pick this one up.

The title track, as well as “Merry Go Round” and “I’m So Sure” show Wes Scantlin penning some of his best. Word of advice: Don’t be an ex girlfriend of Scantlin. He seems to write best when scorned and for god-knows-what-reason he has been there often. (Girls, what is wrong with this guy?) His I’ve-been-wronged-and-no-body-cares style works for the band and fuels some head banging guitar crunch.

The current single "Psycho" is a nice little ride. Reminds me a little bit of "She F*ing Hates Me" simply because of the darling quirky little verses that fall into a thrashing chorus pit. You can check out a video of this one at the Puddle of Mudd Myspace page.

I’ll wager that “Thinking of You” will have to be a single at some point. It’s radio friendly and has a much softer edge to it and for that, girls will dig this song. Guys will learn to play it. Girls will love guys that learn to play it...ah, the cycle of rock and roll. Another radio possible track is the almost-too-Nickelback-ish “We Don’t Have to Look Back.” Again with the softer and friendlier “girl rock” but you have to give them credit for reaching out to both sides of the market.

“Radiate” is this album’s “Blurry.” It’s got that lilting, lower register that Wes does so well. Still heavily guitar driven, but this is a vocal standout. Could be another big hit.

If fans haven’t forgotten the name Puddle of Mudd, then this release will do well because it’s just plain well written. Period. Right now the best career move would be for these guys to start recording another album right immediately. Release it in the spring and go out for a summer concert tour. The music industry and consumer dollars wait for no one- let’s not have another four years between releases!

2007-10-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

It’s been more than a week and VH is still going strong! Reviews are great, but the bulk are coming from the die hards that would go to the moon to see Dave reunite with Eddie. I’m sure Wolfie is enjoying the perks of rockstar life…but is he keeping his dad up past his bedtime???

Meanwhile, Michael Anthony is in Cabo San Lucas helping Sammy celebrate his 60th birthday with SIX completely FREE shows at the Cabo Wabo Cantina. Reports from the first show say that Sammy & crew played for 2 straight hours. The set list was:

Open
I´ll Take You There
I Love This Bar
When The Sun Don´t Shine
On A Roll (a new one about getting on a hotstreak in Vegas)
24365 (this one rocked!!!)
Mexico
Shaka Doobie
Can´t Stop Lovin You (haven´t heard this one since 95)
Piece Of My Heart (never heard this one live)
Finish What Ya Started
One Way To Rock
Heavy Metal
I Can´t Drive 55
Fight For Your Right
Serious Juju
Marching To Mars
Sam I Am
I'll Fall In Love Again
Dreams (acoustic)

Night 2 in Cabo & the set list was:

Girl Gets Around
Red Voodoo
Sympathy For The Human
Top Of The World
Tropic Of Capricorn
Open
24365
When The Sun Goes Down
Why Can´t This Be Love
Joe Love
Three Lock Box
Things´ve Changed
Little White Lie
Who Has The Right
Rock Candy
Mas Tequila

Anyone up for a trip to Cabo? Cheers!

2007-09-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

THE VERDICT IS IN. AND.........

It seems they're not so bad. The Charlotte Observer reports that it was a full house and the band put on a pretty good show. Early comments by readers seem to report the same thing. You can read that review here.
As it turns out, the rehearsal set list that leaked was the actual song list for the night. Scattered reports around the internet are saying that the sound was "muddy" and hard to listen to. The almost-everyone-is-over-50 band put on a great show, but without all the leaps and jumps of the old days. One fan reported that Dave reminded her of Liberace in costume strutting about the stage. Dave does love to strut his game show host poses and those porcelain veneers!
And a special note about Wofie's debut: There is not one report of any mistakes. Not that we expected him to tank, but he is only 16 and has never played a full show at a venue of this size (he did play select songs during the 2004 tour when he was 13). Even though the rehearsal reports were saying his vocals were "off" and/or too loud in the mix, the fans at last nights show say he was fabulous. Way to go Wolf!

Overall, even with some sound issues, it sounds like the fans are happy to see this reunion. Who wouldn't be? After 22 years, no one ever thought this would happen. If they can keep their egos, anger and addictions in check it may turn out to be a good run.

I'm sure more reports will filter in today....stay tuned.

2007-09-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

COUNTDOWN TO MELTDOWN
DAY: ZERO

Somebody get me a doctor! In just two hours Van Halen kicks off their 2007 fall tour with David Lee Roth in the driver's seat. Last chance to place your bets: Will this tour implode...or not? Hard to say. The reviews will be out soon...stay tuned!

2007-09-26T15:47:00.001-07:00

COUNTDOWN TO MELTDOWN
DAYS: 1

Tomorrow night. Charlotte, North Carolina. They're back........

And it looks like it's a go. Additional shows have just been added, bringing this tour to 29 stops. Still no stop in Denver, so I'll have to rely on fellow bloggers, national reviews and of course, YouTube to find out what the VH boys are up to.

So, Dave's back but why is Michael Anthony gone? Here's a blog posting on August 23, 2007, by Mike on his blog:

Thanks For The support!!

First of all, I hope all of you are having a great Summer!! I want to thank everyone for all the support you're shown me during the past months. I'ts all been pretty crazy, and I just wanted to bring you all up to speed. Alot of you have been asking about the upcoming Van Halen tour and my response to it. It's not that I'm not touring with Van Halen because I'm going out with Sammy, I'm going out with Sammy because I was not invited to do the VH tour. Sammy told me that if I was asked to be part of the VH tour and decided to do it, it would be totally cool, and it would not tarnish our friendship in the least!! Well it's not to be, and life goes on. I'll still be out there with Sam, and I can't wait to do some partying with all of you. One last note from myself to all the Van Halen fans out there who will be attending their shows...Wolfgang is a great kid, so don't judge him too harshly. I'm sure he'll do just fine!!....See you all soon, Mike

(from http://madanthonyblog.blogspot.com )

Rumour also has it that Eddie & Alex did not want Mike on the 2004 reunion tour with Sammy. Sammy insisted that Mike be included or he would not participate. In the end, Mike agreed to a pay cut and Eddie & Alex hit the road with Mike & Sammy. I personally love Mike...and Sammy. No wonder I'm not so hyped to see the "new" old VH.

btw...You can see Michael Anthony on tour with Sammy right now. They call themselves "The Other Half" and they usually play right after Sammy finishes his set with the Waboritas.

Here's a little trivia fact: None of Roth-era albums held the #1 album spot on the Billboard charts. Zippo. Null. None. Big Zero. However, all four Van-Hagar albums did, starting with 5150. ALL FOUR. That's a lot of number one time.

I was wondering how they might handle the "Van Hagar" years on this tour. Sammy was able to do the favorites like "Jump" and "Panama" but would Roth be able to pull off a Hagar song?

**SPOILER ALERT***
Details of the show may be revealed here. If you don't want to know, stop reading now.

I have a copy of the rehearsal set list. Not a guarantee that you will hear these songs in this order, but it's a good indication.

01. You Really Got Me
02. I'm the One
03. Runnin' With the Devil
04. Romeo Delight
05. Somebody Get Me a Doctor
06. Beautiful Girls
07. Dance the Night Away
08. Atomic Punk
09. Everybody Wants Some
10. So This Is Love?
11. Mean Street
12. Pretty Woman
13. Drum Solo
14. Unchained
15. I'll Wait
16. And the Cradle Will Rock
17. Hot for Teacher
18. Little Dreamer
19. Little Guitars
20. Jamie's Cryin'
21. Ice Cream Man
22. Panama
23. Guitar Solo (incl. "Women in Love" intro, "Cathedral", "Eruption")
24. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
------------------------
25. 1984
26. Jump

Not one Sammy-era song. In fact, when I went to the official VH web site, I was surprised to see there was not one trace of Sammy left. The background graphics are made from images of all the Roth albums. The discography section is gone, so there is no mention of any albums post-Roth. Even the logo has reverted back to the orignal; the wings of VH are straight now, they were curved during the Sammy years. Interesting how they are just erasing history.

Van Halen is treading in some dangerous waters and unless they find a way to handle this transition back to Roth with some dignity and respect for the Sammy years, they are going to alienate a great portion of their fans.

Here's a video clip from the final rehearsal:

It's actually pretty good! Might even make you think about buying tickets to this tour. Let's not forget that just one year ago Dave was doing this:

And I repeat: Vegas oddsmakers predict this tour will implode before the 5th show.

Who knows? Wait and see. Wait and see.

2007-09-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

COUNTDOWN TO MELTDOWN

DAYS: 2

You thought it was a rumour. You never thought this would happen again. Love him or hate him, David Lee Roth is back! After a couple of false starts, the original Van Halen lineup is set to tour starting this Thursday, September 27. Here's a video from a rehearsal this fall:

What works for them:
1-Roth had a lot of loyal fans that will undoubtably be back for this show.
2-Eddie & Alex are sounding good and they know their material. Say what you want, they are great at what they do.
3- Eddie is out of rehab and hopefully in control of his issues. It also sounds like he is clear of his physical ailments as well.
4-People are curious about Wolfgang (taking over bass for Michael Anthony).
5-With Roth in the lineup, VH is bound to bring back some deep cuts from the Roth years.

What will work against them:
1-VH just lost 1/2 of their band; Sammy & Michael. This might be hard to recover from, not only technically, but in marketing & public realtions.
2-Wolfie may come from rock & roll royalty, but he's green. He's just 16 with and this is a big project to dive into. Good luck, Wolfie.
3-Hagar has fans that are fiercely loyal and VH may see themselves missing some revenue if Hagar's fans don't buy back into Roth.
4-Roth has been out of the game for a while. Can he recover and rebuild the VH dynasty? Only if his ego doesn't get in the way.

Here's another little peek at rehearsals:

Vegas odds have this VH tour imploding within 5 shows. Place your bets, folks!

Me? I was a BIG Roth fan back in the day and even though I loved, loved, loved Montrose & Sammy Hagar solo, I initially felt like replacing Roth was sacrilege. But Hagar went on to help fuel some powerful songwriting in that band, driving VH to their highest successes to date. Bringing Roth back now is nostalgic, but it's all bittersweet when Michael Anthony leaves at the same time.

I also wonder how they are going to handle the Hagar years. Sammy used to sing Roth's VH songs because he had the chops to do it. Can Roth do the same? Or will they just ignore a great portion of their catalog?

My guess is that VH will bring in the dollars with this tour, even if people are just showing up out of curiosity. If this tour does last, I don't think there will be any new VH music coming from this lineup.

It's kind of like a train wreck waiting to happen....Stay tuned!

2007-09-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

R.I.P.

Summer 2007.

2007-09-22T23:32:00.000-07:00

Styx – Foreigner – Def Leppard

September 9, 2007
Fiddler's Green (Coors Ampitheatre)

This concert, wow. Two weeks later, I’m still trying to process it all. I’ve been dreading this review because it’s just not going to be a good one. I’m a music lover and I LOVE live music more than anything. And I love to write good reviews. I just do. It is a joy to be able to take that experience right to the pages. It’s not often that I have harsh words for a show, but I have to report what really happened at this show.

You might title this show “Concert for Ageing Rock Stars.”

“Are you ready to get your Styx on?” ….(Tommy Shaw)

And with that remark, we were rolling in the Styx groove and I gotta tell you…they were tight! Closing my eyes I thought it was 1978 again. The audience was so into it; singing, dancing, reminiscing and rockin it all out.

I was surprised that Styx played first. I had my back to the stage (loading my camera!) when they hit that first chord to “Blue Collar Man” and I spun around like “What?”! Could it be that due to their advanced age(s) they need an early bedtime? Seriously, the show should have been HEADLINED by Styx and the promoter who set that up should be fired. They were truly the highlight of the entire night.

I love live music mostly because it lets the artist off their leash and lets them go wild. Yes, I do want to hear the songs I love the most, but I also appreciate it when group can throw in a wild cover of a song I never expected or when they turn a predictable classic into something extraordinary. It’s the visual of the group with the sound, the venue; it’s the total package that I’m looking for.

( side note: I have to tell you that the most boring concert I have ever gone to is the Dave Matthews Band. Technically, they are superb musicians. So technically gifted that they made the show sound JUST LIKE the CD. I didn’t get anything at their show that I couldn’t have have by listening to the CD at home. And I would have saved $96!)

So did Styx deliver? You bet. They did not throw in any cover songs and they did not stray too far from the original version. Why? They didn’t have to. Styx has a 30+ year catalog to draw from and fans that want to hear it all. They came out and delivered the songs we all wanted to hear. It was classic Styx and it was played with energy, style and verve.

The set list:
Blue Collar Man
Grand Illusion
Too Much Time on My Hands
Angry Young Man (Fooling Yourself)
Miss America
Come Sail Away

Encore:
Renegade

Great set list, huh? This was Styx doing what they do best: rocking hard. I’m sure a lot of people came to the show hoping to hear “Babe” or “The Best of Times.” Great songs. I’m sure you danced to one of them at your prom, but they Styx-lite. This show rocked like Styx was meant to rock. What a shocker to hear “Miss America.” That song separated the Styx-lite fans from the hard rockin Styx fans. What a little gem that was! Tommy rocked the hell out of it!

The current Styx line up for 2007 is: Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman, and Ricky Phillips. For my money, it’s always been Tommy & JY that led that group, but I would not be doing my job if I didn’t mention Lawrence Gowan. Styx knows their fans and they know that in a longer show, they might have to crank out some of those songs that have the “Dennis DeYoung” stamp all over them. How do you ignore that many years of some serious charting hits? (we can all ignore Mr Roboto, agreed?) You get Lawrence Gown, that’s how. He has showman written all over him. He moves, engages the crowd and hits all those sensitive notes just right…..all while twirling his keyboard around. Did I mention he can play those keys behind his back? While singing? Yeah, this is the guy. He’s not a Dennis clone and he doesn’t have to be. He’s got his own style and he keeps pace with the group.

The only bad thing I can say about Styx is that their set was WAY too short (and they should have headlined the show). I was surprised that the encore was only one song, but they knocked it out of the park with “Renegade.” From the erie a cappella opening all the way through the stompin groove and smoking guitar solo. I’ve got a little bit of it on video, but they kind of caught me and my digital off guard, so I missed a bit of the opening. I also had to cut it off at the end when they started introducing each other and taking off on solos. So, enjoy this little nibble:

They didn’t play “Lorelei” or “Snow Blind”, but I can forgive that. I’ll just be at the next show.

I had never seen Foreigner in concert. Keeping up with the news through the years, I knew that Lou Graham was no longer with them so I was braced for whatever voice they were going to give us. You know, some bands actually pull it off when they replace such an iconic voice. Journey did it successfully when they replaced Steve Perry with Steve Augeri. He had that sound down! You might never have known. And then there’s Van Halen who, in my mind, not only replaced David Lee Roth, but they traded up. Sammy Hagar breathed new life into that band and they delivered some hard rockin tunes. And then there’s Van Halen after Sammy with Gary Cherone (you say WHO?)….bad move. Sometimes a great band can survive a transition into a new direction…sometimes, not so much.

The current lineup of Foreigner is Mick Jones, Jason Bonham, Kelly Hansen, Jeff Jacobs, Jeff Pilson & Tom Gimbel. In case you keeping score, that’s just one original member and some 21 former members blowing in the wind. With those stats, I’m not sure taking a job with Foreigner is a solid career decision.

I was watching Foreigner take the stage and I’ll admit that after Styx rockin the show, I was (almost) feeling it. I’m almost getting into it and then it happened: I’m watching this lead singer prance about the stage and all I can think about is a line from the movie “Rockstar” when Izzy tells the crowd,

“You know, I'm just a regular guy who grew up with the posters of these guys on my wall... and now I'm one of them! That's right, I'm standing here, living proof that if you work hard enough, and you want it bad enough... dreams do come true. So follow your dreams...”

That right boys and girls: Kelly Hansen’s dream has come true. But Kelly is no Lou Gramm. If you don’t believe me, you can head on over to www.foreigneronline.com and have a listen for yourself. There’s a live recording of “Long, Long Way from Home.” He’s just kind of pitchy and his vocal quality is thin. I wouldn’t say he’s the worst singer I’ve ever heard, but he just didn’t put out that energy and umph that should have been there. Disappointing. Sadly disappointing.

Here’s the set list:

Double Vision
Head Games
Cold as Ice
Feels Like the First Time
Urgent
Juke Box Hero – Whole Lotta Love
I Want to Know What Love Is

Encore:
Hot Blooded

They picked a good selection of hits and I’ll tell you that the band’s sound was dynamite. Mick Jones played to perfection all those solos you know by heart and the crowd was air guitar-ing right along with him. Aside from a weak lead singer, the other low point of the show was the super extended elongated lengthy expanded very very very long versions of all these songs. Maybe to promote their (lame) 2006 release titled “ Foreigner; Extended Versions”?? You know, I dig these songs like everyone else and I deeply appreciate a band that can bring on the jams (see: Blues Traveler, Grateful Dead, Phish, Widespread Panic etc etc). But come on, guys! Extra solos, an extra chorus here and there and repeating verses: Trust me, the fans knew they were getting jerked around.

The song where this was most evident was “Juke Box Hero.” To start, the intro just went on f-o-r-e-v-e-r. You know this song…the story of a boy with big rock and roll dreams… and you know every word, right? Well, there we are singing along to the first verse and it swells at the end and goes right into the second verse real low and sexy-like…..NO! HA! You just got punked! Because tonight, instead of going into the second verse you get a bonus instrumental jam! You know how it is when you are singing really loud and then the song changes and you keep singing at least for another 10 seconds before you realize what has happened? Yeah, that was it. People were looking confused and slightly embarrassed. Evidently the band thought this worked well because they managed to squeeze two more jams into this song.

Now here’s where I might seem to contradict myself, but try to stay with me: While I wasn’t digging the extended songs that were an obviously put in place to stroke the band’s ego….I’ll admit that there ARE times when this trick works. Jason Bonham is the drummer. Yes, same Bonham. Jason is HIS son. (Yes, I can read your mind) And because “Juke Box Hero” is about a boy on a quest to play some rock and roll, it REALLY WORKED when they launched into “Whole Lotta Love” after the second chorus and brought it all back to “Juke Box.” Man, it was an ethereal experience and probably as close as I will ever come to seeing Zeppelin (sadly).

And that was the high point of Foreigner. A Led Zeppelin song.

Which brings us to Def Leppard closing out the show. Yeah! This had to be good! I saw them play at Sandstone Ampitheatre in Kansas City in the late 80’s…back when “Pour Some Sugar on Me” was at the top of the charts. Bon Jovi opened for them and it was a killer show. Def Leppard has survived so much; Rick Allen lost an arm, Steve Clark died. Not many bands would make it through that. At least they still have their original lead singer, right?

Oh my.

That was my reaction. With my jaw on the floor.

Here’s the set list:

Rocket
Animal
Excitable
Foolin
High & Dry
Let It Go
Love Bites
Rock On
2 Steps Behind
Brining on the Heartache
Hysteria
Armageddon It
Photograph
Pour Some Sugar on Me

Encore:
Rock of Ages

The best thing I can say about Def Leppard is that the band rocked. They were flat out everything I expected. Super tight. Phil Collen has only gotten better with age and Rick Allen can still deliver that electro-rock drum beat. Surprise, surprise: Vivian Campbell was on guitar! Whoa! You know Vivian; formerly with Dio & Whitesnake. He was stellar, delivering it all so effortlessly…so perfect, as if he had written these tunes himself. He was amazing to experience.

So, they opened it up with “Rocket”. Not one of my favs, but still a great tune, had people on their feet, yada yada.…typical opener. I thought there was something wrong with the mix or maybe there was an equipment problem all through the first song because I just couldn’t hear Joe Elliott. Whatever. First song, band might not have sound checked…you know.

Second song, “Animal” and the “problem” was still there. It wasn’t the mix. Not the equipment. It had a name: Joe Elliot. Man, he was bad! Like, Bad-capital-B. BAD all in caps. BAD. BAD. BAD.

So we’ve come full circle in one show: One great band, One band with a replacement singer and One band with a singer that should just quit. What a night.

Joe left the as much of the singing to the crowd as he could. Of course, we all knew the words, so it worked well for him. His voice was always out of tune and out of breath. He just didn’t have the power to sing like he used to. So, maybe he was sick or something? Well, I thought about cutting him a break and assuming that to be the case, until he delivered a killer rendition of the 70’s hit “Rock On.” This song had a lower register and just fit him better than the old hits. He was really good and he sang the whole song….which was good for me, because I was getting tired of singing!

When they whipped out “Photograph” I couldn’t resist. I just couldn’t stop myself. YouTube is entirely too easy to use so, have a listen:

The male voice you hear ever-so-slightly is Joe. It might sound like I was picking up someone from the crowd, but I assure you it is totally Joe Elliot. And it is totally bad. Such a shame, because it’s such a great song.

It wasn’t until the last song, “Rock of Ages,” ( seriously one of my favorites ) that the famous line came: with the crowd yelling it out, “It’s better to burn out, than fade away.” And I have to wonder, Joe Elliott, do you really believe that? Because in your case honey, it would be better to just fade away.

Please. Let it go.

2007-09-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

We interrupt our regular programming........because we got tagged with this Meme.

This was difficult. It’s hard to come up with “random” things about yourself. I started with a list and before long, I found that my list was turning into “things you would have never guessed about me” or “first experiences” or “embarrassing moments” or something like “weird facts about me.” One set of lists naturally centered around music: who I know, who I’ve seen, etc. Interesting? Maybe. But random? Well, not really.

I took Jim’s idea and used a random date generator. Because, as Jim had mentioned, some of the dates had a tendency to cluster around certain years, I ran the generator four times and made note of the dates. Then I sifted through some of my favorite photographs and matched some photos to dates on my list. I tried to keep things spread out, but even my dates started to lean towards the 70’s and 80’s.

Here’s how this meme is supposed to work:

1. Post these rules before you give your facts
2. List 8 random facts about yourself
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them
4. Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here we go. 8 (sorta) Random things about me:

1- No date, but to address the physical: I hate my nose. It looks like no one else in my family and it give me a “miss piggy” quality. I’ve often considered changing it. Maybe if I win the lottery or something……

2- July 1970. Apparently, as it is told to me, I once put a cat in a toy box, closed the very heavy lid and forgot about him. The cat was pulled out in the nick of time and while he was droopy and a bit dizzy, he lived. You see, it was at this babysitter’s house and I was three and there was no one to play with. Hide and seek with the cat seemed like a good idea at the time. I have no memory of this. The lady that was my babysitter later wrote a book about all the kids she had in her care throughout the years. I guess I had enough antics to fill an entire chapter…including the cat story. Thank you Mrs. Belken.

3- April 1976. I won a contest to name a calf (for you non-farm people, that’s a baby cow). I named her “Sabrina” because, you see, it was the 70’s and Charlie’s Angels was all the rage. Even though my parent would never let me watch the show, I still knew the characters. It was sponsored by the Dubuque County Dairy Association and my parents and I were invited to a banquet where I received my $25 savings bond prize on stage.

4- September 1979. Eighth grade. I became a cheerleader. Yeah, that’s right. Finish laughing. I’ll wait.

5- March 1981. I bought my first pair of Calvin Klein jeans for $55 at the local Younkers store. My mom flipped out because she expected me to come home with several pair of jeans from Target. But, it was my money and I decided that I would rather wash my jeans every day and have one pair of Calvins than many pairs of Brand X jeans. Hey, I was in high school and it was the 80’s! As a side note: that particular pair of jeans “gave up the ghost” in 1987. I saved the back pocket with the Calvin label and I still have it today.

6- May 1989. I was living in Kansas City and at the time I was involved in the GMC Country Showdown… a national singing talent contest. Out of the 600 entries in the KC area, I made it to the top 50 before getting knocked out.

7- February 2002. Swearing I’d never get on a plane after 9-11, I boarded a plane to go home to Dubuque to attend the wake and funeral of a friend. It was a surreal 4 days for all of us, of which most were spent drinking, drunk or hungover. If you’re not from Dubuque… or if you’re not Catholic.. you might not understand that it wasn’t done in a disrespectful way. It was a group way of grieving. Therapy.

8- Not date specific: My brother might have the market of procrastination, but I’m the pack rat. I keep everything… because you never know when you might need it again. I’m not a crazy hoarder, but I do think I own more stuff than a person needs to own.

So, there it is. So, who am I going to tag? Well, not all my friends blog, so I might have to hit them via email. Sorry if that breaks the chain.

Here’s my EIGHT:

Kathleen- because Jim didn’t
Howard- because if he comes up with 8 things, that will be the longest email he’s ever sent me.
Rachel- because enquiring minds want to know
Bill- because he had to explain to me what a meme was
Mark- because you probably already have a list of 8 made
Kevin- because I like his blog postings and I’m sure he’ll have some great stories
Phil- because he’s witty enough to handle this
Donna- because if she’s not blogging yet…she should be.

And now back to our regular programming………….

2007-09-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Guess what I'm doing today?????
"The Heroin Diaries; A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star" was released today!! I was lucky enough to receive an 18-page advance preview for this book back in June and I have been counting the days until this came out.

For those of you out of the loop, this book is about Nikki Sixx (from Motley Crue), written by Nikki from his own diaries with responses sprinkled throughout by band members, managers, family and friends. Nikki was the MC member that overdosed in 1987 and was declared clinically dead until the paramedics on the scene gave him 2 adrenaline shots to the heart. This book documents his experience with his heroin addiction and how he came thought it. Should be an interesting read. Expect a review soon.

Speaking of reviews....... I just can't bring myself to finish the review of the Styx-Foreigner-Def Leppard show. Folks, it was just that bad....with the exception of Styx. Really. Bad. Bad. Real Bad.

And on a TOTALLY unrelated note..... I got "tagged" with a "meme" yesterday. And yes, I had to google and wiki the word "meme."

Direct from Wikipedia: A meme as defined within memetic theory, comprises a unit of cultural information, the building block of cultural evolution or diffusion that propagates from one mind to another analogously to the way in which a gene propagates from one organism to another as a unit of genetic information and of biological evolution. Multiple memes may propagate as cooperative groups called memeplexes (meme complexes).

Examples of memes might be tunes, catch-phrases, beliefs, clothing fashions, ways of making pots and the technology of building arches.

I know you are thinking "What does this mean and how does it apply to my life?"

Again, from Wikipedia , an INTERNET MEME is simply the propogation of a digital file or hyperlink from one person to others using methods available through the Internet. Some examples are: emails, blogs, networking sites, instant messaging. The content often consists of a saying or joke, a rumour, an altered or original image, a website link, a video clip or an offbeat news story ..and several hundred more possibilities.

An Internet Meme may stay the same or may evolve over time, by change or through commentary, imitations, and parody versions or even by collecting news about itself. It is spread organically and voluntarily on a peer-to-peer basis, rather than by trickery, compulsion, predetermined path or by completely automated means.

I sum up: My brother hit me with a "tag" on my blog that lead me to a questionnaire or survey for me to read about him titled "8 Random Things About Me." He listed 8 things and then tagged 8 people to do the same. They will list their 8 things on their blog and then tag 8 more people. And they tell 8 people and they tell 8 people and they tell 8 people...you get it, right?

So, later today I will turn out 8 random things about myself. The only big question is....

WHICH 8 PEOPLE WILL I TAG????

2007-09-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

Another BIG day! The Wish List for today:

Foreigner:
Urgent
Feels Like the First Time
Dirty White Boy

Def Leppard:
Bringing on the Heartbreak
Rock Rock
Rock of Ages

Styx
Snow Blind
Lorelei
Grand Illusion
Renegade

2007-09-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Click the banner for more information...

File this under "other stuff you should know."

So, on Friday here in Denver....on the morning show with BJ, Howie and Jennifer...there was some discussion about an encounter Howie had with a motorcyclist that was driving erratically. Howie was expressing his frustration with motorcycle drivers in general and suggested to the listeners that people OPEN THEIR DOORS TO ONCOMING BIKERS.

Howie asked listeners to call in and tell their "bad biker" driving stories and rant about what they would like to do to these bikers. This carried most of the morning show. Surprisingly, only a couple pro-bikers were able to get through the producers...because, of course, the anti-bikers would get better ratings. People called in saying how they would like to "bump" bikers or open their doors on them...and much more.

I have to wonder....WHAT KIND OF PERSON/SHOW WOULD ADVOCATE DOING HARM TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING? It's low. It's disgusting. Have some class, folks! Sure, most adults would know better...but you know there was some young driver out there that thinks this a funny idea and will actually try it.

The station is claiming the incident "never happened". When 105.5 was asked to produce the tape of the show to the local news, they refused.

So in case you don't live in Denver and haven't seen this all over the news, here are some links you use to read about the incident:

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=76926

And here is a biker discussion board to read or participate in the discussion and decide for yourself:

http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/noalice.html

Colorado Bike Sport Club is asking the people of Denver to boycott the station as well as the advertisers that use Alice 105.9. Let the advertisers KNOW why you doing this by calling or sending a letter. You can find a form letter at the Colorado Bike Sport Club site. Here is just short list of advertisers:

Panera Bread
Geico Insurance
Wendy's
Foresters Financial Partners
TLC Laser Eye Centers
Isle of Capri
Jose Cuervo Tequila
Hacienda of Colorado - 3 locations
Cinema Grill - E. Alameda
My Girlfriend's Kitchen - 8555 W Belleview Ave
Water 2 Wine -8130 S. University Blvd
D'Vine Wine - 1660 Champa St
BJ's Resaurant - 14442 E. Cedar Ave
Miyama Steak House & Sushi Bar - 9101 Kimmer Drive
Texas de Brazil - 8390 East 49th Avenue

Additionally, Alice is owned by ENTERCOM. They also own the Denver stations KEZW-1430 AM, KOSI-101.1 FM and KQMT 99.5 "The Mountain"

You can send email to the station at:

http://alice1059.com/pages/265733.php

I love radio and I support free speech. If you are a personality on the radio, you have a lot of power to pass information along to your listeners. You have a responsibility to the community. Even if it's done under the guise of comedy, asking people to do anything illegal, harmful or dangerous is never appropriate.

Sorry Alice 105.9...I never have liked you morning show anyway..but I do like Slacker & Steve in the afternoon....because of this incident, I'm turning the dial.

I've got 103.3 --The Fox --on FULL TIME.

Click the banner for more information...

2007-09-07T06:49:00.001-07:00

How much more 80's rock can I take? Here's a peek at what I'm doing this weekend :

For starters........

And then with these guys:

And my FAVORITE!

All in one weekend?

BRING IT ON!!!

2007-09-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

Night Ranger: A band I have met, but never seen play a live show. I met Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy through a friend of mine that knew Jack. We had dinner with them and as the night progressed, we ended up at my friends house (drinking, of course) and much acoustic music was played. It was casual, fun, loose and these guys were funny! We all laughed and sang the night away. Oddly enough, we didn’t sing any Night Ranger songs…….

That was 1992. Now, in 2007, I am dragging my 3 boys and husband out to see Night Ranger. They are good kids and they try really hard to support mom’s 80’s music addiction. My oldest was nice enough to wear my “vintage” Night Ranger bandana! My husband (thankyouthankyou) has been learning to live with my addiction ever since I forced him to see Motley Crue at Red Rocks. He knew he’d better just get on board or be left behind. So, here we are at the Taste of Colorado in downtown Denver, ready to see the afternoon show for Night Ranger. It’s hot, there are hundreds of people here and we are right up front.

The show was just over an hour and I thought that I could keep the set list in my head, but a few Mike’s hard lemonaides and too much sun…and I just forgot the opening song. You know, if I got PAID to write this blog….I might have been taking better notes. I’m just saying………

Here’s the set list….what I remember!
(if you were at the show and can figure out what I’m missing….email me!)
Sing Me Away
Touch of Madness
Rumours in the Air
Seven Wishes
Highway to Hell
Secret of my Success
When You Close Your Eyes
Don’t Tell Me You Love Me
Sister Christian

The past few years have been good to 80’s rock fans. Old groups are touring with original members, new groups are forming from various old bands and the best of the best are mixing it up and playing musical band members. Night Ranger has only 3 original members: Jack Blades, Kelly Keagy and Brad Gillis. To fill things out, they are currently on tour with Michael Lardie (Great White) and Reb Beach (Winger).

I had fully expected to see Michael Lardie at the show, but there were some conflicts in scheduling with Great White. Instead, there was some unknown-to-me keyboard player (sorry whoever you are). Reb looked fantastic and his playing was HOT! Brad Gillis and Reb were definitely meant to play together. There was such symbiosis between rhythm and lead guitar that the lines were blurred and it was hard to tell who was taking the lead. Some of Brad’s lead guitar lines were doubled in harmony by Reb. The fingers were flying! Blistering! It was truly amazing to see. Both stellar players, I still wondered how it went when they first tried to do that……….

Let me just say this about Brad Gillis: He oozes “ROCK GUITAR GOD” better than anyone in the business. I am hooked every time I see it. Of course, he has the chops to back it up, which makes him even hotter. I’ve photographed a lot of bands and inevitably at a show, one band member will stand out as prime photographic material. It’s some sort of vibe that comes out that makes them camera friendly. For this show, it was Brad…..and I ended up with more shots of him than anyone else. I could have followed him around with my camera all night.

Jack was full of energy. It was a hot day for an outdoor show and he was all over the stage! The man can move! As I had remembered him…he’s funny. The intro for “Secret of My Success” was a story about a phone call from Michael J. Fox asking if they would pen the title track for the movie. Jack said “Are you going to pay us? WE’RE THERE.” (this, no doubt, poking a little fun at how commercial Night Ranger made themselves in the 80’s) If you know that song….you know that there are about a million “na-na-na-na-na-na-na’s” at the end and the song went on forever.

After all the na-na’s, Jack said that some of the greatest songs ever had a little na-na in them. He gave us the na-na’s for the 60’s hit “Kiss Him Goodbye” and the audience ran with it. He gave us the na-na’s from Journey’s “Lovin Touchin Squeezin” and again- the crowd went nuts. Probably the best na-na song of all time, Jack said, was..and you guessed it…he gave us the na-na’s for “Hey Jude.” It was a great audience participation moment. Someone must have said something that Jack heard, because he said “Hey, really. This is our music, too. We grew up on this stuff. What did you think WE were listening to?” Good point. And to prove it, Brad launches the opening riffs to AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.”

THE CROWD WAS ABSOLUTELY, COMPLETELY NUTS!

Brad stopped as if it were only a joke, but the fans wanted more. Jack says, “You want to hear this?” And the answer was “HELL YEAH!” And with that, we traveled on down the highway with Night Ranger. I think Jack may have blown a vocal chord or two, but AMEN was that awesome! For those about to rock…..!!

(*note—you can see Jack Blades & Jeff Keith (Tesla) doing “Highway to Hell” at the California Music Awards. Check YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXLypJfkuSk)

“Sing me Away” was a surprise as the second song in the show. It was also great to hear them dig out “Touch of Madness” and “Rumours in the Air” to remind everyone that they write heavy guitar rockin’ songs…even if they aren’t all top ten hits.

The show closed with “Sister Christian”----OF COURSE. It was done well and I wasn’t surprised by that. Kelly Keagy came out from his perpendicularly placed drum kit to lead the crowd in some a cappella singing. And for a moment…we were all back in high school……..

I can tell you that we did NOT hear “You Can Still Rock in America” which was a shocker. I imagine they might have been saving it for the 7:30 show. I was also surprised that we didn’t get “Goodbye” and “Four in the Morning” or even “Sentimental Street.”

I can’t say a bad thing about this band. They are expert musicians, they love their fans and it shows. It’s a thrill to see another band that survived the 80’s and is looking healthier and playing better than ever. If you haven’t seen them live…..go. They are so much more than just “Sister Christian.” I promise they will rock your ass off!

(more photos at http://flickr.com/photos/lonelymoose/ )

2007-09-06T08:59:00.000-07:00

As promised, it's Weird Al with "The Saga Begins."

Recorded August 30, 2007 at the Colorado State Fair.

The camera is little shaky here and there, but still a good video. Enjoy!

2007-09-05T20:32:00.000-07:00

I got two reactions when I told people I was going to see Weird Al Yankovic in concert. The first was “Why?” and the second was “How can he put on a show? Is he a REAL musician?” You will notice that neither answer was “Who is he” or “Is he still around.” Everyone knows who Weird Al is. I grew up listening to him. My kids now listen to him. Even my mom knows who he is! So, let me answer those ‘other’ nagging questions.

First: Why? Well, why not? Ha! No, really….I’m a music fan. I love it all and I don’t think there is a concert you could offer that I wouldn’t go see. If you were a teen in the 80’s, then you watched Mtv take its first steps and with that came Weird Al. Al is now a cultural icon and I felt a duty to see what his live show was all about.

Second: Is he a real musician? YesYesYesYesYes. Am I clear? I always thought that Weird Al was more ‘comedian’ than ‘musician.’ I was certainly schooled at this show! Some might say ‘musical comedian’, but I think even that is just too casual for what Al does.

Al has had the same band line up since 1982: Steve Jay (bass), Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz (drums), Ruben Valtierra (keys) & Jim West (guitar). These guys just don’t get all the credit they deserve. Think about it: Al writes and parodies a wide variety of music and his band has to have the chops to keep up with him. And they do. They are just tight, tight, tight! So, credit to the band as they are most certainly the glue that holds this circus together every night.

But you really want to know about is Al, right? I admit it; I was curious about the kind of show I was going to see. Al came out sporting his trademark accordion and treated us all to “Polkarama” from the current release “Straight Outta Lynwood.” A triple wide video screen played the actual videos from Snoop Dogg, Kanye & the Black Eyed Peas. It is easy to see why Al has trouble getting permission for his parodies and polkas from the rappers: It’s because he brings out the ridiculousness that is their career. You have to wonder if these guys know how silly their songs are and maybe, are they worried that people will eventually see that the emperor has no clothes?? Headline: Talentless Rappers Exposed by Weird Al, Story at 11!!

“Polkarama” went right into “Canadian Idiot,” complete with a confetti explosion at the end. Fantastic! Does anyone know if he performs this song when he’s in Canada? Because I know Green Day does “American Idiot” here in the US….just a thought. The lights went out…the video screen came on and it was Weird Al doing one of his celebrity interviews, this time with Jessica Simpson. These ‘interviews’…clearly pasted together for effect…are an absolute stitch, but I thought that this one went on a little too long. I was secretly hoping that we would have more music and less video.

When the lights came up, we had Al in a gold glitter shirt singing “You’re Pitiful” (the parody of ‘You’re Beautiful’). Just a few lines into the song and I realized why the video clip had been so long: Al has a costume addiction!! He pulled off the glitter shirt to reveal a skeleton t-shirt, pulled that off to reveal a t-shirt that read “Atlantic Records Sucks”, pulled that off to reveal a SpongeBob t-shirt. When he reached for the zipper…you just KNEW the pants were coming off!! By the end, Al was in boxer shorts and a tu-tu. Of course, we had to have another video short because not even Weird Al can segue smoothly from boxers and a tu-tu.

(**Backstory note on the Atlantic Records Sucks t-shirt: “You’re Pitiful” was only released on Al’s website due to a dispute with James Blunt’s record label, Atlantic, who rescinded permission for the parody after it was recorded. The song is still available on Al’s website as a free download.)

Highlights:
*’Eminem was given a harsh video interview before “Couch Potato” (parody of “Lose Yourself”). Al made him look like an idiot. “Couch Potato” was all too short for me as it was meshed into a medley with “Do I Creep You Out.” I would have liked to have seen more of this song because Al raps better than anyone. So angry!!

* “Trapped in the Drive-Thru” was a treat with the video playing on the screens. This version was shorter than the album…for good reason. The album version is almost 11 minutes long! Great song.

*”The Saga Begins” was followed by “Yoda” of course…because what else are you going to sing while you and your band are dressed in Star Wars costumes? This song was a full-out production. The audience (me included) knew all the words and sang along. A chorus line of Stormtroopers danced behind Al while Darth Vader looked on. (see my video) In the middle of Yoda, we were treated to an a cappella break by the band. I don’t know if it had a name, but I wasn’t familiar with it….Kind of Hawaiian, kind of funk. But great. These two songs were definitely show stealers!

*”Eat It” came with the red Michael Jackson jacket…and he can do the dance! *”Fat” was the most impressive costume (& the last) complete with fat suit AND the fat latex face just like in the video. It was a riot!

As I have been told, Al always likes to throw in a new song or something that could not be released. This concert was no exception: We got “I’m in Love With the Skipper” (a parody of “I’m in Love With a Stripper”) Al was in a Gilligan outfit while a video montage of the Skipper and Gilligan played on the video screens. It made me very uncomfortable in kind of a “don’t even go there” way…..but then again, I think that was the point.

Al’s current VH1 hit is “White & Nerdy” and YES, he DID come out on a Segway! He raps, he busts a move and the best part: he had Donny Osmond on the video screen. I feel a personal attachment to this song. It’s the anthem of my people! (side note: I have also seen Donny Osmond in concert in 2002. So, put Weird Al AND Donny in the same show??? Yep. Life Complete.)

The encore was a fan favorite: Albuquerque. And a short song about cell phones that he made up on the spot, causing everyone to turn on their phones and wave them about. Albuquerque…how do I describe it? If you don’t know the 11 minute song from the album “Running With Scissors,” you need to dig that one up and give it a listen. Eleven minutes of song that EVERYONE knew how to sing (except me). Live in concert, this song was about 20 minutes! He expanded the pastry rant (“We are OUT of JELLY DONUTS”) which was probably the funniest part. Great song…great energy. I love seeing fans that really KNOW a song. This was the die-hard fan’s song for sure!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention just a few of the originals that Al performed. That’s right! He writes original songs! “Weasel stomping day”, “I’ll Sue Ya” & “Wanna B UR Lover” were outstanding. “Close But No Cigar” was a riot! They were great songs by a great writer, but they were really held up by an outstanding band.

I tried to keep a running set list, but that is nearly impossible at an Al show. He runs a lot of new medleys by so fast that it’s easy to miss something. The set list I have posted is a close approximation.

Polkarama
Canadian Idiot
Close But No cigar
Bob
It’s All About The Pentiums
You’re Pitiful
Wanna B UR Lovr
Medley: Couch Potato- Do I Creep You Out- Isle Thing,
Bedrock Anthem, Confessions Pt. III, Ebay,
Ode To A Superhero - Eat It-A complicated song-Pretty fly for a rabbi-Gump-Trapped in the drive thru
Headline News
I’ll Sue Ya
The Saga Begins Yoda
Weasel Stomping Day
Smells Like Nirvana
Amish Paradise
White & Nerdy
Fat
ENCORE: Cell Phones & Albuquerque

Total costume changes: 17
Song with the most costume changes: “You’re Pitiful” for a total of 5.
High point of the show: “The Saga Begins”
Low point of the show: There just wasn’t one. Really. I haven’t laughed so hard ever!

Music: great. Comedy: fantastic. Visuals: stunning. What can I say….”I’m just so White & Nerdy.”

(you can see more of my Weird Al photos at: http://flickr.com/photos/lonelymoose/ )

2007-09-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

BREAKING NEWS: NIGHT RANGER ROCKED!!!!

I'm behind on my review of Weird Al....and now I owe you a review of Night Ranger. The pics are back for both shows and they are excellent! One video from each show also!

Tomorrow is Sunday and I don't have any shows scheduled, so the reviews *might* get done!

2007-08-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

Review to come...pictures and VIDEO on the way.

From the wishlist we were given "The Saga Begins" and the first verse and chorus of "Couch Potato" which was rolled in with "Do I Creep You Out".

"Don't change that channel...Don't change that dial"

2007-08-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

My wish list for tomorrow's show:
"The Saga Begins"
"I lost on Jeopardy"
"Dare to be Stupid"
"Another one rides the Bus"
"Couch Potato"

And now for something completely different! (well, except that it IS about music and it IS another concert)

This Saturday.

THIS SATURDAY.

And this little, often overlooked, gem:

2007-08-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

And now for the song that cracks me up *Every *Single *Time:

2007-08-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

The highlight of the week:

2007-08-12T18:31:00.001-07:00

It was mind blowing!! Of course, it ALWAYS is. Rush fans have come to expect a level of expertly played rock...and they get it every time.

I thought that the last tour, R30, was the fans tour. They pulled out all the radio hits, every party song and the crowd air-drummed and guitared and sang their way through the entire show. I think I was 16 again for most of the show...it was that powerful. But this...this Snakes & Arrows tour...THIS was the REAL DIEHARD FAN tour.

I'll admit I love Rush; Never heard a song I didn't like. I enjoy listening to them and I will never turn down a chance to see them live. But I'm not a diehard fan like my husband who knows the words to every song. This tour brought out deep cuts like Witch Hunt from 1981's Moving Pictures. And a real crowd favorite was Entre Nous from 1980's Permanent Waves which had never been played live before. Don't forget "Bangkok"..you know they never play "Bangkok."

If you think Rush is only about long songs with deep lyrics...you don't know Rush. The most enjoyable thing is their sense of humor. We spent the week speculating what appliances Geddy would have on stage this time. The dryers? Vending machines? Nope. Rotisserie chicken ovens marked "Henhouse." Funnier still is that they tied to the show opener film which gave us Geddy as a Scotsman telling a sleeping Geddy to "wipe that chicken off yer face, un get up on tha' stage." As the film fades, the boys are running to their places on stage, Geddy still toting a chicken leg and wiping his face with a towel. Alex strikes the first chord of Limelight....and the three hour ride takes off.

Speaking of taking off: I was super excited when Bob and Doug McKenzie appeared on stage via film. For a second, I thought that *maybe* they would launch into "Great White North"......one of just 4 Rush songs that I know ALL the words to...but no. It was an introduction for "The Larger Bowl." Those guys...again with the humor!

We got schooled by The Professor. Peart's drum solo. 'Nuff said.

After 3 hours and one 15 minute intermission (see the set list) we still had not heard "Tom Sawyer" and I wondered if maybe after immersing the crowd in a record SEVEN songs from the new album....maybe, just maybe, could they possibly be leaving Tom Sawyer OFF the set list?? I mean, really, how many times in 32 years do we expect these guys to play that song?

And then it happened: Lil' Rush came on. Cartman..you know, the little round-headed SouthPark guy...Cartman showed up on screen for a short mockery of Tom Sawyer. It was all good fun mainly aimed at Geddy. Cartman proclaimed "Screw you! I'm Geddy Lee and I can sing whatever lyrics I want". And the crowd agreed. (**special note that the SouthPark film got a HUGE welcome here is Colorado. you see, this is the HOME of the REAL SouthPark, just south of Denver)

And we got our Tom Sawyer.

Can I say anything bad about this Rush show? Not much. My 7th row seat allowed me to get a close look at Neil's face and it seemed to me that he was simply "clocking in" for the gig, although you wouldn't have known it from the way he played. Flawless and hard. Geddy was as energetic on stage as ever. I think his voice sounded better than it did on the last 2 tours. He was hitting all the high notes with ease and I had to think "Geddy, where did you get the time machine?" Alex was beautiful. Looking very fit, he played with a lot of heart, passion and humor. He was a joy to watch.

It was a perfect mountain eve at Red Rocks; cool with a mild wind and the stars were visible in the sky and on the stage. It just couldn't have been better. My only complaint: I have yet to hear "Closer to the Heart" and "Fly by Night" live.

I guess that means I'll be buying tix to the next Rush show that comes to town. And the next, and the next, and the next......

2007-08-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

What a GREAT show!

Set list:

Set 1:
01. Limelight
02. Digital Man
03. Entre Nous
04. Mission
05. Freewill
06. The Main Monkey Business
07. The Larger Bowl
08. Secret Touch
09. Circumstances
10. Between The Wheels
11. Dreamline

Intermission

Set 2:
12. Far Cry
13. Workin' Them Angels
14. Armor And Sword
15. Spindrift
16. The Way The Wind Blows
17. Subdivisions
18. Natural Science
19. Witch Hunt
20. Malignant Narcissism
21. Drum Solo
22. Hope
23. Summertime Blues
24. The Spirit Of Radio
25. Tom Sawyer

Encore:
26. One Little Victory
27. A Passage to Bangkok
28. YYZ

Smuggled my professional camera in wrapped in a tortilla, wrapped in foil, in a Qdoba bag with the rest of our food. More pics to come......

Enjoy this South Park short film from the concert. It ROCKED.

2007-08-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

TODAY is the day!!!

2007-08-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, that WOULD rock!!!!!

2007-08-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

One guess where I'll be on Wednesday.....

Rush - Tom Sawyer

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2007-08-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

My latest OBSESSION

2007-08-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

So you think this is a good idea?

2007-05-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

We never talked about it

But I hear the blame was mine

I'd call you up to say I'm sorry

But I wouldn't want to waste your time


'Cause I love you, but I can't take any more

There's a look I can't describe in your eyes

Yes we could try, like we tried before

When you kept on telling me those lies


Do you remember...?


There seemed no way to make up

'Cause it seemed your mind was set

And the way you looked it told me

It's a look I know I'll never forget


You could've come over to my side

You could've let me know

You could've tried to see the difference between us

But it seemed too far for you to go.


Do you remember...?


Through all of my life

In spite of all the pain

You know people are funny sometimes

Because they just can't wait

To get hurt again


Do you remember...?


There are things we won't recall

Feelings we'll never find

It's taken so long to see it

'Cause we never seemed to have the time


There was always something more important to do

More important to say

But "I love you" wasn't one of those things

And now it's too late

Do you remember...?

2007-03-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

J’ai une ame solitaire.

Aren't we all?

2007-03-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

The years rolled slowly past
And I found myself alone
Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends
I found myself further and further from my home
And I guess I lost my way
There were oh so many roads
I was living to run and running to live
Never worried about paying or even how much I owed
Moving eight miles a minute for months at a time
Breaking all of the rules that would bend
I began to find myself searching
Searching for shelter again and again

Against the wind
A little something against the wind
I found myself seeking shelter against the wind

Well those drifters days are past me now
I've got so much more to think about
Deadlines and commitments
What to leave in, what to leave out

Against the wind
I'm still running against the wind
Well I'm older now and I'm still running
Against the wind

2007-03-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

YouTube is entirely TOO easy to use. So is my digital camera with video. I suppose that's how something like this happens:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!!!!!!

2007-02-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

Today: Sunny & 56.

40 drawings due by Tuesday, buried in work.

Got old friends on my mind.

Distracted.

Are you feelin' it??

2007-02-17T12:03:00.000-08:00

A do-it-yourself personal manifesto. Because sometimes we all need a reminder.

Instructions: Print, Cut out, Fill in the Blank.

(From the cover of "GOOD" magazine, October 2006. You should be reading this!!)

2007-02-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

I know, I know...it's WAY past the Christmas season...but I can't resist. Can't get this song out of my head....ENJOY!!

Dick In A Box

2007-02-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

I've commented on writers on this blog before and if there is one thing I can't stand is "trite" or predictable poetry. Face it: even though we all have feelings, just because you can write them down does not make you a "poet".....for some, it barely counts as writing! Harsh, but true.

I came across something today that was so moving, I wanted to share it here. It was written by a new-found-old-friend who asked me to keep their identity hidden.

I think the strength of this writer's piece lies in the fact that the feeling expressed is universal. It's easy to get inside this piece and feel the pain firsthand. The three-part line writing style is conversational & expressive without being predictable.

You just know you've been to this place: It's familiar, it's painful and it's true.

Enjoy!

I cried today, that never happens, I’m made of stronger stuff

She lied today, or did she really, is she making it all up

It’s me she loves, she’s over him, but his memory just won’t fade

My sun is blocked by furious clouds, I can’t escape this shade

If I don’t believe, I can’t go on, my world comes crashing down

To be deceived, to be hurt again, jut when I ‘d lost my frown

This can’t be freedom, I don’t feel free, feel caught up in a game

This can’t be freedom, I don’t feel me, wanna ask her to take my name

This can’t be freedom, it can not be, wonder if she feels the same

I cried again, getting used to it, must be something in the air

I cried again, then had to stop, my heart can’t stand the wear

I know it’s out there, I know it’s real, some how I’m just not sure

If she is ready, if I am ready, if our love is ready to endure

If I cut myself will I still feel, wonder if I’ll even bleed

My heart no longer has the strength to pump the blood, does it even beat

This can’t be freedom, I know it can’t, when chains they hold us fast

This can’t be freedom, we are not free, when we hold on to the past

This can’t be freedom, not for you and me, just hoping we can last

I tried to cry but no tears would come, don’t know if that’s good or bad

I still can’t cry, not even some, wonder if I ever could

The love I had, the love I lost, not so easy to replace

I thought I saw the love I craved when I gazed upon your face

You tell me that you love me, and that you need and want me

But is it love, is it need, what do you want me to be

I can’t be him, no never that, I am all that I can be

This can’t be freedom, it just can’t, when so many questions go unanswered

This can’t be freedom, when your eyes are full of doubt

This can’t be freedom, what can I say, I can’t bear to hear you shout

I’m crying again, and don’t know why, am I happy, am I sad

I’m crying more, can’t understand, am I angry, am I mad

Don’t know how I feel, I am confused, not sure what I can stand

Do you hear me cry, do you ask why, do you understand

2007-01-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

Meet our Newest Addition: SHAQ

He is 16 pounds of gooey cat goodness. He is 5 years old and has only 1/2 of his tail, which he wags like a dog. The shelter records said that he lost part of his tail when he was hit by a car.

He came from a no kill shelter that rescued him from another shelter. They think he has spent most of his life in some sort of animal shelter.

We call him SHAQ because he is largest, beefiest cat we have ever seen. His head is the size of a large grapefruit. His legs are a little short, so he walks like a bulldog.

You can imagine....we have already started calling him "Love SHAQ" or "Boom SHAQ-a-laka-laka" and "SHAQ Attack". He is such a lovey boy...and a surprisingly good ball player. Go figure.

So far, there has been little conflict with the other cats in the house (black cats also). The dog thinks she IS a cat, so she accepted Shaq with no problem.

Things we have learned about SHAQ so far: #1- He loves catnip. #2- He does eat plants. #3- If you are going to lift SHAQ, you will need 2 hands. You should also lift from your knees, NOT your back.

You can see more (and there is so MUCH more) of SHAQ on my Flickr page.

2006-11-28T09:37:00.000-08:00

Ya-Ya 2006

It was a great trip & a Happy Turkey Day!!
You can see the pix on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonelymoose/

Back to the grind.......

2006-11-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day to All!!!

Can't wait to touch down in Iowa this week.....been looking forward to seeing everyone. Hope that everyone is able to spend time with their family and friends....that is what the holidays are for!

Hey...Extra whip cream on that pie!!!!!

2006-10-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

And so here it is: the title is "Make Your Own Damn Dinner". I hope you get the concept. My window will also be featured in "Visual Marketing & Store Design" magazine (VMSD).

2006-10-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Check this out: My work is featured at the Flash Gallery!!! I have an original window display titled "Make Your Own Damn Dinner." My art will be up for the next month in the show "MADE"...... AND my display will also be featured in "Visual Merchandising & Store Design" (VMSD) magazine!!!!!!! All those years of merchandising for BabyGap finally paid off with national recognition!

2006-09-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

Growth without Criticism?

I think not. How can we learn to do better if no one points out our shortcomings? How do we know that the bar can or should be set higher if no one says "you could do better"??? We can't learn from constant pats on the back. We don't become better people, craftsmen or artists by a steady stream of nice words. We need to hear when we fall short. We MUST know!!

Case in point:
I have been following a certain group of writers here on Blogger. I thought that by connecting with other writers, I might be inspired to do more with my writing. What I found was a bunch of writers, some wanna-bees and some actually published, that constantly praised each other's work. Yes, there are some good writers out there...for sure. There are even more that are just beginning...and it shows.

I have to say that this certain circle of writers really were a disappointment. I have not read any critiques directed to a writer that would make them better for it. It's like a constant lovefest between these people. Everyone loves everyone else's work and it's always roses and sunshine and no writer in this group can do any wrong, even when someone writes total drivel. PUH-LEEEEEZZZZ!!!!!!

I'm telling you...I have sat in on a workshop at the Iowa Writer's Workshop (one of the most prestigious MA writing degrees in the country and by invitation only). These people wouldn't last a day in a crowd of "real" writers. The criticism can be harsh at that level and the competition is often, but not always, cut-throat. Pansies need not apply.

Encouragement is great. Everyone needs it along the way and we should all know how to give it. Praise for a job well done is also good. Again, we all need to hear about the good things we do. HOWEVER.....in learning any craft we are not born as experts. We are not perfect artists, writers and craftsmen when we start out. Everyone needs to learn their craft, practice it often and seek out qualified criticism to make your art better. In learning your craft, you will mess up. You will make mistakes. You will have projects that completely tank, while others shine. You may have a concept that is about 80% complete, but lacks that final push to make it over the top. This is where criticism comes in.

I have been an artist and designer for 14 years. The structure of learning art is such that class critiques are necessary. I have had nice critiques, mixed critiques and I have also been reduced to tears by one instructor who felt the need to make an example of me and what I did wrong. Exposing your art is a personal thing, but when you sign on for design school it's just part of the deal. You are wide open for critiques.

Despite their sometimes harsh nature, critiques do serve a purpose. You get to hear what you did right. You get to learn where you went wrong. You get to hear why people do or do not like your art. In all of this, you learn not to take it personally and you build up a thick skin. You learn to absorb the comments, process them and you get back out there and you do it all over again.

Since no art pleases everyone, it is almost impossible that these writers all truly enjoy EVERYONE'S writing ALL THE TIME. Since no artist is perfect, it would be impossible to think that this certain group of writers are always error free and perfect in their craft. To read the comments they all leave for each other, you would think they were all perfect. "Great job" "Loved It" "You are such a good/sensitive/talented/thoughtful/insert-any-adjective-here writer." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

We MUST deal with criticism to grow. Criticism doesn't always mean a negative....it can embrace the positive aspects. But, in order to reach deeper, to try harder, to perfect our given craft, we must hear the good AND THE BAD. Otherwise, we are stagnent...we wither and our craft dies.

Do someone a favor today: Offer them your honest opinion. Tell it like it is, the good and the bad. You will both be better for it.

2006-09-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

I've been away...but I'M BACK!!!!

The music industry has had a busy week. Here are some things to look forward to:

1- I am writing a review for Bo Ramsey's new CD "Stranger Blues" If you don't know Bo, you SHOULD. Expect this review soon.

2- Audioslave has a new CD this week as well: "Revelations" This CD is being tauted as a big departure for the group, but I see it more an an evolution. Expect a review on this as well

3- There was an historic concert at Red Rocks last week. Do you know what it is? A review and an mpg movie coming soon!

Until these reviews get written...here are some tunes for you to enjoy. I hate to post the first single from the new Audioslave disc, but it's all I have right now:

On a smoky retro note:

And because I just love Dave....here's something unexpected:

Enjoy your weekends. Bo Ramsey is at the Blues on Grand tonight in Des Moines. Get there!

2006-07-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

It's the weekend!

ENJOY!!!

2006-07-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

How could I resist.........

Enjoy your summer!!!

2006-07-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

"Do not climb higher than you are afraid to fall"--Posted at a climbing gym.

And I was thinking how we all use this lesson for life: Do not climb higher than you are afraid to fall. It's all about risk, good and bad.

Bad risk; When we hold back from achieving anything because we are afraid of failure. We stop just short of the goal because acheiving the goal and losing it later would be entirely too painful. We hold back from love and from our friends because we don't want to risk losing them.

Good Risk; When we take that chance on a career, a sport or love and friendship- When we throw that caution to the wind. We say "Failure? Who me? So What! Bring it on!!" We take that risk and we come out for the better on the other side.

I have a friend that was recently released from a very high profile public job. His entire career was based on taking risks that moved him to the top of his field. The fall was large, so was the risk worth it? Do larger falls hurt more than small setbacks? I'm sure he would say that he took great risks (willingly) and that this "fall" hurts terribly at this moment. However, I also know that this person is an experienced risk taker and that he will saddle up and try it again...and he will succeed. He will succeed because he respects the risk and he doesn't worry about the fall.

There is a David Wilcox song that goes,

" Balance is no harder after all
Out across this bridge so tall
Balance is no harder
Its just that you've got farther
Now you've just got farther to fall"

So, what kind of risk are you; good or bad? Have you been holding back? Maybe the secret is not to worry about the fall..........

2006-07-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

This has been moving me through the week:

"You don't have to die and go to heaven

Or hang around to be born again

Just tune in to what this place has got to offer

'Cause we may never be here again."



Do you even HAVE to ASK who said this?

2006-07-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Thought for the Day:

"Sometimes the angel you want is not the angel you get"

Iyanla Vanzant said this. She was talking about being stuck in your life and looking for change and knowing that you need change. Her point was that sometimes the thing you think you are looking for.....the thing or the person that you think should be in your life....sometimes that thing or person is not what you get. Sometimes the thing that moves us along to change does not come in the form we thought it should.

Maybe the universe or God knows what we need better than we know ourselves.

Iyanla also says that you need to keep questioning the universe and the things that are set before you. Is it possible that your "angel" has already come into your life? Have you missed or overlooked an opportunity for change and growth?

Something to think about. Maybe your angel is closer than you think.

2006-07-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well, this fits, doesn't it? This is from "The Long Way" by the Dixie Chicks...who also said what they believed and refused to apologize for it.

Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself

But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow

Well, I never seem to do it like anybody else
Maybe someday, someday I'm gonna settle down
If you ever want to find me I can still be found

Taking the long way
Taking the long way around

2006-07-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Post deleted at the request of........

2006-07-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Another post deleted.

2006-03-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Thought for the day:

"They say that it's never too late,
But you don't get any younger.
I guess I better learn to starve the emptiness
And feed the hunger"

(emily saliers)

2006-03-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

I didn't think that I liked this song at first, but it's been on my mind constantly this week. Once I gave it a listen, it reminded me of a friend that has also been on my mind recently. I know this person is going though some rough times recently and my emails have gone unanswered...which makes me worry. But, I imagine that he will surface again...as always...with an incredible story of where he's been for all this time. Wishing him well.............

Good is good and bad is bad
You don't know which one you had
She put your books out on the sidewalk
Now they're blowing 'round
They won't help you when you're down

Love's on your list of things to do
To bring your good luck back to you
And if you think that everything's unfair
Would you care if you're the last one standing there

And everytime you hear the rolling thunder
You turn around before the lightening strikes
And does it ever make you stop and wonder
If all your good times have passed you by

I don't hold no mystery
But I can show you how to turn the key
Cause all I know is where I started
So downhearted
And that's not where you want to be

When the day is done
And the world is sleeping
And the moon is on its way to rise
When your friends are gone
You thought were so worth keeping
You feel you don't belong
And you don't know why

And everytime you hear the rolling thunder
You turn around before the lightening strikes
And does it ever make you stop and wonder
If all your good times have passed you by

When the day is done
And the world is sleeping
And the moon is on its way to rise
When your friends are gone
You thought were so worth keeping
You feel you don't belong
Neither do I

Sheryl Crow

2006-01-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

Artists You Should Know:
Linda Smith

I've known about Linda Smith since junior high school. What I didn't know was what a fabulous songwriter she had become. I'll admit that I haven't been following Linda's career from the beginning. It all started with a tip from a friend; someone had heard that Linda was in Chicago and was a successful folk musician. Well, of course I had to look that up and I ended up buying her Greatest Hits CD.

Greatest Hits collections are a great place to start exploring new artists. I gave this one a listen and was compelled to buy more! (fyi- you can buy 4 of her albums on itunes RIGHT NOW!)

Linda has a warm, honey voice; honest and deep. There is nothing pretentious about Linda's music. She has stories to tell and she just lays it out there. It's raw and gutsy and you will connect with it. Just when you think Linda is all about being serious, she throws you a curve like "Ex-girlfriend Song" that is full of humour and shows just a little bit of punk roots.

Available on iTunes: 'Greatest Hits-Journey to Now', 'Cry Baby Cry', 'Emily's House' and 'Same Girl, Different Day'.

So far, my favorites are (in no particular order): Sometimes I Cry, What Have I Done and Ex-Girlfriend Song.

You can find out more about Linda at:

www.samegirldifferentday.com

Rock On, Linda!!

2005-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

What used to be my favorite drinking holiday finds me at home with family and a bottle of Australian wine, warm brie and a crusty loaf of bread. Things change.......

Spending my holiday break recovering from pneumonia and watching R30 (Thirty Years of Rush). If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you RUSH to do so! (hahaha)

Cheers! Here's hoping that 2006 finds us all healthier, happier, wealthier and wiser!

Rock On......

2005-12-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

2005-12-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

So, so, so busy this week. Finals at school, meetings and the weather is too cold.

But I couldn't let today go by without posting on the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death.

I guess, for my generation, Lennon's death is our Kennedy's assasination. I will forever remember where I was when I heard Lennon had been shot. My friend Kurt and I used to walk to school together. I was a freshman and he was a senior. I would walk to his house, knock on the door and hopefully, Kurt would be ready to go. Kurt wasn't ready that morning. His mother let me in their kitchen and Dinky, the dashound, had to bark at my ankles. Waiting for five minutes or so, Kurt storms through the kitchen and flings open the door, rushing outside as if he hadn't even seen me standing there. He walked fast and with purpose, waiting for no one.

It was frigid cold outside and Kurt had no coat. I grab his coat, run up the street and start questioning him. My guess was that he has a fight with his girlfriend (again). Questions. Questions. Begging him to put on a coat. Dropping my books, stumbling up the street just to keep up with him. We are walking in the middle of the street and Kurt starts to cry. And then he stands still.

I am stunned at this display because of who Kurt was; goofy and kooky. I had never seen this kind of emotion from him and, it sort of scared me. I didn't get the details, but he said 'Someone shot him. John is dead.' We stood in the middle of the street and held each other. That was the last time Kurt spoke for 3 days.

Kurt was the biggest Beatle-head that I knew, save for my uncle who had introduced me to the fab four when I was just 5. Kurt, myself and our little group of friends were all into music and no matter which direction we were headed in, the Beatles were always at the root. It always came back to them. Learning chords, writing lyrics. Everything we knew about music in our small town started with the Beatles. We felt close to them, even though we didn't actually know them, and now things had changed. In just an instant.

It took me a little longer to feel it. On Sunday, when all the radio stations went silent to honor John, it finally hit me. And it hurt. It was shocking. It just felt black and numb.

................

So, we have all grown up now. I was just 13 when John died. Since then, I have purchased a Lennon piece at a show in Kansas City, where I met Yoko Ono as she debuted John's extensive art collection; I have worked directly under Ringo Starr (for his All Star Band at Farm Aid 4- he autographed my 45 of "she loves you"); and I have been fortunate enough to see Paul 3 times (90,93 &05); I have been to an art showing of Linda's photograhpy; I truly regret never seeing George in concert- I think he was the most sensitive of the four.

My connection to the Beatles remains and when I hear that music I am a kid again. I love to play those songs-love to sing them all. I wonder what John's place in the world would be today. Would he still make music? More art? What would he think of the state of the world today?

I don't think about "imagine" when I think of John. I think of "Instant Karma" and a cold day in December, holding a good friend.

Happy Christmas-War is over (if you want it)

We all shine on.........

2005-12-05T15:54:00.000-08:00

Song of the day: Stranglehold (t.nugent)

Just makes me wanna..........

2005-11-30T07:59:00.000-08:00

Truth--- it can just slap you in the face sometimes:

Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme

(rush- of course)

2005-11-28T18:31:00.000-08:00

Meant to post this on Thanksgiving, so think back to last Thursday........

Thought for the day:

"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got" (sheryl crow)

2005-11-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

Busy writing papers today, so this is all you get:

Song of the Day: Why? (Tracy Chapman)

Word of the Day: Change

2005-11-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

Artists You Should Know:

Kevin Gordon

I got to know Kevin's music when he was living in Iowa City, playing for Bo Ramsey. Later, he broke off and started "The Rockodiles" and now has a solo career in Nashville.

I was fortunate enough to see Kevin (with Bo, Radislov, Mitch, Steve and Mike) play MANY MANY times at really small clubs throughout central and eastern Iowa in the late 80's/early 90's before he moved to Nashville. His stellar songwriting ability is reason enough to give him a listen, however, it is Kevin's ability to channel Stevie Ray Vaughn (and all other blues guitarists that go before him) and present you with an absolutely ON FIRE live performance that will leave you breathless. In all the times I've seen him play, he just lays everything at your feet and you will swear he is having an out-of-body experience as that music just flies out of his fingers. There is nothing like it anywhere. If you get the chance to go....you MUST!! What a sultry voice...what a guitarist....and he's not bad to look at. Ok, he's pretty hot.

Kevin has several recordings out. His latest, "O, come look at the burning" has got to be his best yet. You can get it on iTunes, along with "Down to the Well"...another great CD. If you want to see everything, you can go to:

www.kevingorgon.net

All the old stuff is on his web site to buy. Tour dates are also there...as well as an interesting blog that Kevin writes. (wish he would write more..hint, hint) Check him out...you won't be sorry.

If I had to pick one (and I can't)...My top 5 songs by Kevin:

1- Lucy and Andy Drive to Arkansas, 2- Hellcat, 3- Find My Way, 4- Watching the Sun Go Down, 5- Over the Levee

BTW- If anyone is looking for a graduation present for me about this time next year.....you can save all your nickles and dimes and get Kevin to play my grad party!!!!

2005-11-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

Today, I am writing a paper on Queen Anne furniture and I have 4 more papers to write by Thursday; Palladian Architecture, Georgian Architecture, Hepplewhite furniture and Sheraton furniture. You see, when I'm not thinking about music (which is pretty much NEVER) I am a student of Interior Architecture, with hopes of going on to a Master's program in architecture in the next year and a half.

I am two paragraphs into this paper and my mind (and mouse) wander off to iTunes and I start cruising for new music that I'd like to do. This is not helping me write my paper.

Right now, I am LOVING "The Body Acoustic" by Cyndi Lauper. I had forgotten how great "Money Changes Everything" is. Got to put that on my 'to do' list. I also downloaded the first Tracy Chapman album...which I only have on vinyl. That album has some really great, but really overlooked songs on it. Forget "Fast Car"...try "Talkin' bout a Revolution" (which is also great when done by In Living Color, but hard to find)...or try "Why" or "Baby Can I Hold You".

I'm also toying with the Sheryl Crow version of "Sweet Child 'o Mine."

As you can see.....This paper is not getting written!!!!!!!

2005-11-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

Song of the day: Set It Off (Audioslave)

Word of the day: Driven

2005-11-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

Question: If I feel 19, look 29 and am actually 38......How old am I really?

Hey, thanks to all those that have emailed me already. Looks like there are more of my kind on this planet than I thought!

Yes. That is actually me with Dweezil Zappa. What a hottie he is!

2005-11-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Denial is a life-skill that I'm really good at. I'm a professional, eh?

(geddy lee, 1981)

Some things, however, will not be denied.

(bonnie raitt, 1989)

I've come to the conclusion that it must be in my DNA....something woven into every cell of my body that I have never been able to shake. It is resistant to denial, medication, repression and it can't be ignored, replaced or cured. I live with this everyday like some sort of disease that I need to keep hidden.

It's true: I'm a rockstar mommy.

The secret is out.

I don't fit in with the PTA or the soccer moms...even though I try. I just stand on the sidelines, scanning the crowd for more of my own. And there are none.

Everything in my life relates to music. Everything.

My kids know music. They rock out to anything; Ozzy, The Beatles, Neil Young, Alice Cooper, Motely Crue, Tom Petty...on and on. They listen to rock, country, pop, rap and metal. They've been to the theatre and know musicals and operas. They all play instruments...and not just because we require them to, but because they really want to. They sing and they dance. They think that guitar amps are end tables and bass cabinets are pretty cool furniture. They use words like "gig", "mike stand", "monitor", "axe" and "rack" in normal conversation.

And it's all my fault. They got it from me.

Denial hasn't worked all these years.

Changing jobs and three majors in college later: I still just want to rock.

Does it help my cause or hurt me that my husband is fully supporting the conversion of our basement into a home studio?

Is it wrong for me to want bright pink hair?

(see kelly osbourn's color, 2002)

Question: Fix up my old volvo OR buy a new effx pedal, re-string my 12 string and buy a mackie mixer? (obviously, the volvo needs a lot of work!)

My Christmas/birthday wish list includes brands like: Roland, Mackie, Gretsch, Taylor and Klipsch. (feel free to send me something. anything)