Big Joe and I had a great time at the Dave Matthews Band Concert at Blossom Music Center last night. All day it rained and rained and rained. Around 4:30 the rain started to let up but we were supposed to get hit again around 9:00 with another storm. We had plastic to sit on and ponchos to wear. Although once DMB started there was no more sitting, everyone was up and moving for the rest of the night. The rain never came back, it was a beautiful night. Joe and I got a great parking space with a little help from 4 wheel drive. We had no problem getting out after the show. The show ended at 11:00 we were on the back roads heading home by 11:17.
The band consisted of, of course Dave Matthews guitar and vocals, Boyd Tinsley violin, Carter Beauford drums, Stefan Lessard bass, Rashawn Ross trumpet and horns, Tim Reynalds lead guitar, Jeff Coffin saxophone in place of the deceased Leroi Moore. I believe Leroi Moore was playing the weather. Thanks Leroi
They played 17 songs in about two and a half hours. Something tells me that if Blossom did not have an 11:00 curfew they would have played longer. Eight songs were off of their new album that I think is just superb. DMB opened with "Funny The Way It Is", a great song off of the new CD. Then came "Pig" with a Dave solo. "Squirm" is off of the new CD. "Crush" started a master jam session between first Boyd Tinsley taking the lead and then playing back and forth between Tinsley and Tim Reynalds. The jam finished with a small drum solo by Carter Beauford. "Spaceman", off the new CD, featured Rashawn Ross on trumpet. Proving that they are the best at what they do they played "The Best Of Whats Around". The crowd goes wild as the first notes of "Grey Street" are played. "Seven" another song off of the new CD was next.
Then a song about a prophylactic, "Jimi Thing". During "Jimi Thing" there are extended solos and interplay between all the members of the band except Dave, he is standing stage left not even playing his guitar. Jeff Coffin is playing two different saxophones at the same time! Dave steps up to the microphone and does a bit of scat that would make Mel Torme jealous. Whoa, Dave is showing off some dance moves. Yes he is a white man. And the band sings together on a new ending to "Jimi Thing" by harmonizing the lyric "sexy mother fucker shake that ass", over and over and over again. The crowd joins in. Wow that was a lot jammed into one song.
Big Joe does not care for "Lying In The Hands Of God". I personally like the song. DMB added a kind of spacey jam for the stoners to space out to in the middle of the song. It was mellow kind of nice. Dave throws on an electric guitar and plays one of my favorites "Louisiana Bayou". They smoked it. I love the Yuus. They burst, and I do mean burst, into "Why I Am" off of the new CD with a hot guitar solo by Tim Reynalds thrown in. Dave goes back to his acoustic guitar for "Rhyme Or Reason". "Dancing Nancie's" is next with a Tinsley solo. I love "You And Me" off of the new album. I sing it to my Honey Bunny all the time, maybe that is why she doesn't like the Dave Matthews Band. "Two Step" starts out slow with Boyd playing the violin like a mandolin. The crowd goes crazy when the song kicks into high gear. Tim Reynalds plays an excellent slide guitar solo and fades out to a Carter Beauford drum solo. The band heads off for a brief break before the two song encore.
Dave and Tinsley do a little acoustic song called Rye Whiskey. I can't find a version of the song listed on any albums. And for the Grand Finale off of the new CD a cute song Shake Me Like A Monkey. Dave must like monkeys he sing about them often.
Over all a good show. Their seemed to be a lot of moving around on the lawn which is some what distracting. I seemed to remember in the old days people sat and listened to the music. I know DMB makes you want to dance but do you have to stumble and run through the crowd all night long? Maybe I am getting old? Lights, movie screens and sound were all good. Music was excellent. Hanging with big Joe loads of fun. I give it four twirls. I was not familiar with a few of the songs, which is my fault, but that might be why I could not give it five twirls. Yes, I will go back and see them again. It is a fun crowd to mingle with.
Twirls are based on a five twirl system. The highest ranking is Five Twirls with some hand moves thrown in.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Plain Dealer
The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland is claiming it is losing customers to the world wide web, to electronic information systems that spread news instantly, to 24 hour news programs on cable TV. This is all probably true but, you knew there was going to be a but, it is also because of their lack of customer service.
Today I did not receive a newspaper delivered to my house. This is just one of many instances in the past year where the Plain Dealers lack of customer service has been evident. I called my carrier at 7:30 AM, of course my call was forwarded to voice mail. I wait and wait and wait, no return phone call and no newspaper. So at 9:30 I call the Plain Dealers Customer Service Desk. I go through the automated system which doesn't give me the satisfaction of bitching. I'VE BEEN WRONGED HERE AND I WANT JUSTICE. So I call back to the Plain Dealer at 9:35 AM and wait on hold until 9:44 AM until I get to talk with a real person. I wonder how many operators they have and how many complaints they get that it takes them nine minutes to answer the phone. I am told that it is to late for me to receive a newspaper today but they could deliver it tomorrow or just credit my account for 1 newspaper. Why would I want today's newspaper delivered tomorrow? I can just go to the world wide web or a 24 hour news program on cable. Hey a light bulb just turned on, I don't need the Plain Dealer delivered to my house I can get all the news I need electronically.
There is something very tactile about sitting at the kitchen table holding the newspaper and reading it together with my Honey Bunny, passing sections back and forth and making side comments to each other about the article that we are reading. Our morning ritual is about to come to an end due to poor customer service. Not the Internet, not the cable TV but poor customer service.
I remember as a kid sleeping out in my back yard, getting up at 4:30 in the morning with my friend Dickmo and Hoss and jumping on our bikes and going to deliver the Plain Dealer for Dickmo's paper route. Dickmo who wasn't known as Dickmo at this time of our lives, he didn't get the distinction of the name Dickmo until later on in life. I digress. Dickmo would ride his bike down the middle of the street barking orders like "Side door, milk chute, front porch skip the next two houses and then side door." You see that WAS customer service. A person did not even have to leave the confines of their home to get the newspaper.
The Plain Dealer then decided that kids no longer would be able to deliver the news paper. Adults would deliver the paper and not to your doorstep but to your drive apron. We as customers put up with this lack of personal service because it was supposed to keep costs of the newspaper down. Now the adults are getting so lazy that they can't even hit my 20' wide driveway. I find my paper in the drainage ditch, on the backside of snow piles, on the wet dewy grass, everywhere but in my driveway. I used to be able to go get my Plain Dealer in my big, fluffy, bright red, Ohio State slippers. Now I have to put on water proof work boots, carry a flashlight, a cell phone in case I get lost, a side arm to keep the vicious woodland creatures away and a fishing net to get the paper out of any ponds it might be floating in. Going for the newspaper has become an adventure, a safari a pain in my ass that I can no longer accept quietly. When I get back to the safety of my castle I usually find at least one if not more pages wet with morning dew, rain or deer and critter piss. I want the newspaper delivered in my driveway. The Horror.
I pay my bill one year in advance. I used to be a 20% tipper. You would think that they would want to keep a customer like me happy. This past billing cycle I tipped nothing, zero, nada, zilch. I have complained to the Plain Dealer and the carrier three times in the past year. You would think that someone would get the hint that I am unhappy with their service. They don't. The Plain Dealer has been writing articles about how bad the customer service of the Cleveland Water Department is. Trust me the Water Department is terrible. Maybe just maybe the Plain Dealer should look inside their own glass house before they start throwing stones.
Today I did not receive a newspaper delivered to my house. This is just one of many instances in the past year where the Plain Dealers lack of customer service has been evident. I called my carrier at 7:30 AM, of course my call was forwarded to voice mail. I wait and wait and wait, no return phone call and no newspaper. So at 9:30 I call the Plain Dealers Customer Service Desk. I go through the automated system which doesn't give me the satisfaction of bitching. I'VE BEEN WRONGED HERE AND I WANT JUSTICE. So I call back to the Plain Dealer at 9:35 AM and wait on hold until 9:44 AM until I get to talk with a real person. I wonder how many operators they have and how many complaints they get that it takes them nine minutes to answer the phone. I am told that it is to late for me to receive a newspaper today but they could deliver it tomorrow or just credit my account for 1 newspaper. Why would I want today's newspaper delivered tomorrow? I can just go to the world wide web or a 24 hour news program on cable. Hey a light bulb just turned on, I don't need the Plain Dealer delivered to my house I can get all the news I need electronically.
There is something very tactile about sitting at the kitchen table holding the newspaper and reading it together with my Honey Bunny, passing sections back and forth and making side comments to each other about the article that we are reading. Our morning ritual is about to come to an end due to poor customer service. Not the Internet, not the cable TV but poor customer service.
I remember as a kid sleeping out in my back yard, getting up at 4:30 in the morning with my friend Dickmo and Hoss and jumping on our bikes and going to deliver the Plain Dealer for Dickmo's paper route. Dickmo who wasn't known as Dickmo at this time of our lives, he didn't get the distinction of the name Dickmo until later on in life. I digress. Dickmo would ride his bike down the middle of the street barking orders like "Side door, milk chute, front porch skip the next two houses and then side door." You see that WAS customer service. A person did not even have to leave the confines of their home to get the newspaper.
The Plain Dealer then decided that kids no longer would be able to deliver the news paper. Adults would deliver the paper and not to your doorstep but to your drive apron. We as customers put up with this lack of personal service because it was supposed to keep costs of the newspaper down. Now the adults are getting so lazy that they can't even hit my 20' wide driveway. I find my paper in the drainage ditch, on the backside of snow piles, on the wet dewy grass, everywhere but in my driveway. I used to be able to go get my Plain Dealer in my big, fluffy, bright red, Ohio State slippers. Now I have to put on water proof work boots, carry a flashlight, a cell phone in case I get lost, a side arm to keep the vicious woodland creatures away and a fishing net to get the paper out of any ponds it might be floating in. Going for the newspaper has become an adventure, a safari a pain in my ass that I can no longer accept quietly. When I get back to the safety of my castle I usually find at least one if not more pages wet with morning dew, rain or deer and critter piss. I want the newspaper delivered in my driveway. The Horror.
I pay my bill one year in advance. I used to be a 20% tipper. You would think that they would want to keep a customer like me happy. This past billing cycle I tipped nothing, zero, nada, zilch. I have complained to the Plain Dealer and the carrier three times in the past year. You would think that someone would get the hint that I am unhappy with their service. They don't. The Plain Dealer has been writing articles about how bad the customer service of the Cleveland Water Department is. Trust me the Water Department is terrible. Maybe just maybe the Plain Dealer should look inside their own glass house before they start throwing stones.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Quickies
I must apologize to all of my followers, you have been erased. Please re sign up so I don't look like some loser with no one reading his blog. Please add comments to my rants, I love the dialogue.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The movie is a set up for another movie. The previous Harry Potter movies were stories that could stand all by themselves, this one does not. It has some lessons on Puppy Love that I could relate to. I had no idea what girls were thinking or how I should act when I was in Junior High and High School. I felt bad and yet could relate with Ron Weasly. But the end just kind of leaves you hanging like the Lord of the Rings first two movies. This movie is the first two hours of a longer movie. Twirls will be reserved until I see the end of the movie.
Public Enemies is a good movie, three twirls. It is the life and times of Public Enemy #1 John Dillinger. John is hunted by the bungling Officer Pervis. He has encounters with Baby face Nelson and Frank Nitty the famous Chicago crime boss. The movie is good but I would wait to see it on a Saturday afternoon on TV in about a year. I am sorry I paid to see it on the big screen.
Shaq joins the Cavs. I have heard Shaq being called the "Big Pirogi". Good name. I am not thrilled with this move and neither is my Honey Bunny. How many times have we gone after the big name guy at the end of his career and they have fizzled. Is he going to be a help? Yeah, maybe, I say reluctantly. Twenty minutes a game and some added muscle in the middle, yeah. A huge personality and ego to deal with, yeah. He is likable, yeah. Weak on defense and a lot of foul trouble is what I see, yeah. If someone would get Anderson Varejao on steroids and beef him up a little he could be a help. He has those little wimpy arms. Lift some weights Andy.
Browns. I am still undecided about the Browns. Mangini still has not won me over. He is not a fan friendly kind of guy which is OK if he wins.
Indians after the All Star Break. Bleaugh. Sorry I got to go and clean up this mess before my Honey Bunny gets home. Please send me ways to get puke out of my keyboard.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The movie is a set up for another movie. The previous Harry Potter movies were stories that could stand all by themselves, this one does not. It has some lessons on Puppy Love that I could relate to. I had no idea what girls were thinking or how I should act when I was in Junior High and High School. I felt bad and yet could relate with Ron Weasly. But the end just kind of leaves you hanging like the Lord of the Rings first two movies. This movie is the first two hours of a longer movie. Twirls will be reserved until I see the end of the movie.
Public Enemies is a good movie, three twirls. It is the life and times of Public Enemy #1 John Dillinger. John is hunted by the bungling Officer Pervis. He has encounters with Baby face Nelson and Frank Nitty the famous Chicago crime boss. The movie is good but I would wait to see it on a Saturday afternoon on TV in about a year. I am sorry I paid to see it on the big screen.
Shaq joins the Cavs. I have heard Shaq being called the "Big Pirogi". Good name. I am not thrilled with this move and neither is my Honey Bunny. How many times have we gone after the big name guy at the end of his career and they have fizzled. Is he going to be a help? Yeah, maybe, I say reluctantly. Twenty minutes a game and some added muscle in the middle, yeah. A huge personality and ego to deal with, yeah. He is likable, yeah. Weak on defense and a lot of foul trouble is what I see, yeah. If someone would get Anderson Varejao on steroids and beef him up a little he could be a help. He has those little wimpy arms. Lift some weights Andy.
Browns. I am still undecided about the Browns. Mangini still has not won me over. He is not a fan friendly kind of guy which is OK if he wins.
Indians after the All Star Break. Bleaugh. Sorry I got to go and clean up this mess before my Honey Bunny gets home. Please send me ways to get puke out of my keyboard.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Jimi Dimora
Jimi Dimora, I come not to praise you but to defend you. Right now you probably feel as though you do not have a friend in the world, well I might not be a close friend but I am willing to defend your right to being innocent until proven guilty. The writers and reporters who used to pretend to be your friend have all turned against you to sell advertising on their second rate newscasts and in the birdcage liner known as the Plain Dealer.
The buzzards in the news media have tried and convicted you already when you have not even been charged with committing a crime yet. They throw in their little disclaimers saying that you have not been named, but they know its you, they have pointed their fingers and have thrown their stones. I thought in America people were tried in courts of law not in a rag newspaper or on channel 19 news.
The FBI supposedly investigated Cuyahoga County Government for a year before it raided offices and homes of public officials. It now has been a year since those raids have taken place and the only sign of Dimoras guilt have been supposed leeks from the FBI to the unscrupulous Plain Dealer that will print any unsubstantiated piece of news that will sell a newspaper. The leeks do not name Jimi Dimora they only refer to Public Official #1 which the Plain Dealer and Channel 19 assume is Jimi Dimora. Jimi if PO#1 is yo so be it but I think you deserve your day in court before you get crucified by the self righteous media.
People claim the FBI is building an ironclad case. The FBI has had two years to build its case. If you have a case, bring it. If you do not have a case, then quit tearing Cuyahoga County apart with innuendo and unsubstantiated accusations.
The FBI seems to be using their tried and true method of building a case by busting a low level crook "A". Crook "A" then cuts a plea deal for a light sentence and turns in Crook "B". Crook "B" then cuts a deal and turns in Crook "C" who has no one dirty to turn in so he turns in an innocent person. No one believes the innocent person is innocent so he goes to prison the longest because he has no one to turn in. Don't believe me? Look at the Mansfield case. The FBI took the word of drug dealers and crooks over innocent people and locked up many innocent people. To hell with justice, conviction rates look good for the FBI.
Mr. Dimora wants a federal investigation into where the the original complaints came from. Jimi feels it could go all the way up to the heads of the Republican party. He feels that the heads of the Republican party want to break up the stronghold the Democrats have in Cuyahoga County so that Ohio will become a solid Red State. This seems a little far fetched until you look at the heads of the GOP. Mitt "I have no perceivable political principal" Romney, Dick "I'll shoot you in the face" Cheney, Mark "to hell with family values" Sanford, Rush "I will lie to make the GOP look good" Limbaugh. Greed heads all of them, willing to do any dastardly deed to turn an election towards the Republicans. With a bunch of Jackals and Scoundrels like that in charge maybe Mr. Dimora's claims are not that far fetched.
Hagen and Jones the other two County Commissioners are separating themselves from the Dimora Plague. But for anything to have passed one of the other Commissioners would have had to vote and or agree with Dimora. Most contracts are awarded to the low bidder in government. Buying one Commissioner does not guarantee you the contract, you need two. And is $19,000 bribe worth losing a $100,000 a year job over? I don't think so.
I have been offered a bribe. When I accepted the bribe I did not know it was a bribe. I thought the contractor was just being a nice guy. He offered me two front row club seats to a Cavaliers Basketball game. The waiter when he came around told us all drinks and food were already paid for. Nice! A week later the contractor was pouring concrete and violating the specifications of the contract. I told the contractor to rip out the concrete and do it according to the specifications.
Contractor: How was the Cavs game?
MC: Great. Remove the concrete.
Contractor: You enjoyed the seats, the beer and food were good?
MC: I don't drink beer but I had a pop. Yep, everything was fine. Remove the concrete and install it according to the specifications.
Contractor: Your an ASSHOLE! You will never go to a Cavs game on me again.
MC: A Cavs game is not worth me losing my job over. I can buy my own Cavs tickets. Quit cheating and do the work right.
So you see that sometimes what is thought to be just a nice gesture on a persons part can turn into a bribe. Is the gesture nice enough to sell your soul for, that's the difference between if it is a bribe or just a nice gesture gone sour. $200 to $300 spent on me is not worth me compromising my principles for or to lose a $55,000 job over.
Did Mr. Dimora force the taxpayers to pay extra money for services rendered that they could have gotten cheaper form someone else? Who was the other Commissioner voting in favor with Mr. Dimora? Are the snitches and crooks telling the truth to the FBI or are they lying to save their own asses? When the Plain Dealer folds will their reporters go to work for the Enquirer or the Star? Which of the following does Rob Frost, head of the Cuyahoga County Republican party enjoy more, Oral sex with an eighteen year old, male hooker or anal sex with a 55 year old man that he truly loves? Yes these questions have to be answered before we start casting stones. So far I have not seen any charges against Jimmy Dimora in a court of law and I think it is wrong that he has already been tried and convicted in the Cleveland media.
The buzzards in the news media have tried and convicted you already when you have not even been charged with committing a crime yet. They throw in their little disclaimers saying that you have not been named, but they know its you, they have pointed their fingers and have thrown their stones. I thought in America people were tried in courts of law not in a rag newspaper or on channel 19 news.
The FBI supposedly investigated Cuyahoga County Government for a year before it raided offices and homes of public officials. It now has been a year since those raids have taken place and the only sign of Dimoras guilt have been supposed leeks from the FBI to the unscrupulous Plain Dealer that will print any unsubstantiated piece of news that will sell a newspaper. The leeks do not name Jimi Dimora they only refer to Public Official #1 which the Plain Dealer and Channel 19 assume is Jimi Dimora. Jimi if PO#1 is yo so be it but I think you deserve your day in court before you get crucified by the self righteous media.
People claim the FBI is building an ironclad case. The FBI has had two years to build its case. If you have a case, bring it. If you do not have a case, then quit tearing Cuyahoga County apart with innuendo and unsubstantiated accusations.
The FBI seems to be using their tried and true method of building a case by busting a low level crook "A". Crook "A" then cuts a plea deal for a light sentence and turns in Crook "B". Crook "B" then cuts a deal and turns in Crook "C" who has no one dirty to turn in so he turns in an innocent person. No one believes the innocent person is innocent so he goes to prison the longest because he has no one to turn in. Don't believe me? Look at the Mansfield case. The FBI took the word of drug dealers and crooks over innocent people and locked up many innocent people. To hell with justice, conviction rates look good for the FBI.
Mr. Dimora wants a federal investigation into where the the original complaints came from. Jimi feels it could go all the way up to the heads of the Republican party. He feels that the heads of the Republican party want to break up the stronghold the Democrats have in Cuyahoga County so that Ohio will become a solid Red State. This seems a little far fetched until you look at the heads of the GOP. Mitt "I have no perceivable political principal" Romney, Dick "I'll shoot you in the face" Cheney, Mark "to hell with family values" Sanford, Rush "I will lie to make the GOP look good" Limbaugh. Greed heads all of them, willing to do any dastardly deed to turn an election towards the Republicans. With a bunch of Jackals and Scoundrels like that in charge maybe Mr. Dimora's claims are not that far fetched.
Hagen and Jones the other two County Commissioners are separating themselves from the Dimora Plague. But for anything to have passed one of the other Commissioners would have had to vote and or agree with Dimora. Most contracts are awarded to the low bidder in government. Buying one Commissioner does not guarantee you the contract, you need two. And is $19,000 bribe worth losing a $100,000 a year job over? I don't think so.
I have been offered a bribe. When I accepted the bribe I did not know it was a bribe. I thought the contractor was just being a nice guy. He offered me two front row club seats to a Cavaliers Basketball game. The waiter when he came around told us all drinks and food were already paid for. Nice! A week later the contractor was pouring concrete and violating the specifications of the contract. I told the contractor to rip out the concrete and do it according to the specifications.
Contractor: How was the Cavs game?
MC: Great. Remove the concrete.
Contractor: You enjoyed the seats, the beer and food were good?
MC: I don't drink beer but I had a pop. Yep, everything was fine. Remove the concrete and install it according to the specifications.
Contractor: Your an ASSHOLE! You will never go to a Cavs game on me again.
MC: A Cavs game is not worth me losing my job over. I can buy my own Cavs tickets. Quit cheating and do the work right.
So you see that sometimes what is thought to be just a nice gesture on a persons part can turn into a bribe. Is the gesture nice enough to sell your soul for, that's the difference between if it is a bribe or just a nice gesture gone sour. $200 to $300 spent on me is not worth me compromising my principles for or to lose a $55,000 job over.
Did Mr. Dimora force the taxpayers to pay extra money for services rendered that they could have gotten cheaper form someone else? Who was the other Commissioner voting in favor with Mr. Dimora? Are the snitches and crooks telling the truth to the FBI or are they lying to save their own asses? When the Plain Dealer folds will their reporters go to work for the Enquirer or the Star? Which of the following does Rob Frost, head of the Cuyahoga County Republican party enjoy more, Oral sex with an eighteen year old, male hooker or anal sex with a 55 year old man that he truly loves? Yes these questions have to be answered before we start casting stones. So far I have not seen any charges against Jimmy Dimora in a court of law and I think it is wrong that he has already been tried and convicted in the Cleveland media.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Gov't Mule Mansfield 7/12/09
Bri Boy and I took a road trip to Mansfield, Ohio to the beautifully renovated Renaissance Theatre, where Government Mule was performing thier power blues rock music for an adoring crowd. Government Mule is made up of Warren Haynes lead guitar and vocals, Matt Abst drums, Danny Louis keyboards and new bass player Jorgen Carlsson.
The band took the stage at 7:30 pm and jumped into a fan favorite "Brand New Angel", Warrens voice is spectacular. "Mr. High and Mighty" is next. Followed by "Bad Man Walking". The Mule pull out a little Jimi Hendrix and play "Little Wing". The fans from Cincinnati, standing next to me, loved "Rocking Horse". The instrumental "Thelonius Beck" was a crowd pleaser. The Mule then moved into "Monkey Hill" with a teaser of the Beatles "Shes So Heavy". They plowed into "Fools Moon". and finish out the opening set an hour and twenty minutes later with "Where Did You Sleep" sliding into "About A Girl" and back into "Where Did You Sleep".
After a 25 minute intermission the band took the stage again with a soulfull version of Procal Harems "A Whiter Shade Of Pale",(One of my all time favorite songs). Danny Louis steps out from behind his keyboards and straps on a guitar to help Warren with "Is It My Body". Then the Mule play a song that they have never performed live before, the bluesy B B King classic "Need Your Love So Bad". A rousing rendition of "Left Coast Groovies" was next with Warren going crazy on the guitar at the end and using the mike stand as a slide then holding the guitar by the strap and kicking the guitar until the notes finally fade away. Matt Abts gave the rest of the band a break and beat up on his drum kit for a while. Matt is a superb drummer. The band comes out and does Warrens tribute to Jerry Garcia "A Patchwork Quilt". I want to cry every time I hear that song. Then they lightened things up with "Slack Jaw Jezebel". Wheres my Mule, Wheres my forty acres, Oh sorry still singing form last night. Yes they did "Mule" then slipped that into "Catfish Blues", which slipped into "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zepplin and back to "Mule", Whew. The Crowd is in a frenzy and the boys leave the stage waving good bye.
There has to be an encore. Why yes there is. Warren takes the stage solo and performs the Eagles hit "Wasted Time". Bri Boy knew what the song was with the first three notes. The rest of the band joins Warren on stage for the grand finale, Marshal Tuckers "Can't You See". Warren had the crowd singing the chorus while he harmonized over the top of the crowd with the lyrics. The dancing hippie girls are dripping wet and drained after a great show like this. It is 10:39 and the crowd is heading for the parking lots.
Warren has to be the hardest working man in Rock and Roll. Playing with The Mule, The Allman Bros and The Dead. How does he keep it all straight? Matt Abts is one of the best drummers playing today. Danny Louis seems playful with his costume changes but never smiles, wierd. Jorgen Carlsson is a good addition to the band. Andy Hess the old bass player was just, there, he did not add anything to the music like Allen Woody did and now Mr. Carlsson does. I hope Jorgen sticks around for awhile.
The Renaissance Theatre was beautiful. The crowd was friendly and energetic. The sound was great, we were sitting right in front of the speakers and I could still hear once the concert was over. The Mule was excellent. And we had no problems getting to and from the show. This was an overall enjoyable experience. I rate this a 5 twirl show.
The band took the stage at 7:30 pm and jumped into a fan favorite "Brand New Angel", Warrens voice is spectacular. "Mr. High and Mighty" is next. Followed by "Bad Man Walking". The Mule pull out a little Jimi Hendrix and play "Little Wing". The fans from Cincinnati, standing next to me, loved "Rocking Horse". The instrumental "Thelonius Beck" was a crowd pleaser. The Mule then moved into "Monkey Hill" with a teaser of the Beatles "Shes So Heavy". They plowed into "Fools Moon". and finish out the opening set an hour and twenty minutes later with "Where Did You Sleep" sliding into "About A Girl" and back into "Where Did You Sleep".
After a 25 minute intermission the band took the stage again with a soulfull version of Procal Harems "A Whiter Shade Of Pale",(One of my all time favorite songs). Danny Louis steps out from behind his keyboards and straps on a guitar to help Warren with "Is It My Body". Then the Mule play a song that they have never performed live before, the bluesy B B King classic "Need Your Love So Bad". A rousing rendition of "Left Coast Groovies" was next with Warren going crazy on the guitar at the end and using the mike stand as a slide then holding the guitar by the strap and kicking the guitar until the notes finally fade away. Matt Abts gave the rest of the band a break and beat up on his drum kit for a while. Matt is a superb drummer. The band comes out and does Warrens tribute to Jerry Garcia "A Patchwork Quilt". I want to cry every time I hear that song. Then they lightened things up with "Slack Jaw Jezebel". Wheres my Mule, Wheres my forty acres, Oh sorry still singing form last night. Yes they did "Mule" then slipped that into "Catfish Blues", which slipped into "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zepplin and back to "Mule", Whew. The Crowd is in a frenzy and the boys leave the stage waving good bye.
There has to be an encore. Why yes there is. Warren takes the stage solo and performs the Eagles hit "Wasted Time". Bri Boy knew what the song was with the first three notes. The rest of the band joins Warren on stage for the grand finale, Marshal Tuckers "Can't You See". Warren had the crowd singing the chorus while he harmonized over the top of the crowd with the lyrics. The dancing hippie girls are dripping wet and drained after a great show like this. It is 10:39 and the crowd is heading for the parking lots.
Warren has to be the hardest working man in Rock and Roll. Playing with The Mule, The Allman Bros and The Dead. How does he keep it all straight? Matt Abts is one of the best drummers playing today. Danny Louis seems playful with his costume changes but never smiles, wierd. Jorgen Carlsson is a good addition to the band. Andy Hess the old bass player was just, there, he did not add anything to the music like Allen Woody did and now Mr. Carlsson does. I hope Jorgen sticks around for awhile.
The Renaissance Theatre was beautiful. The crowd was friendly and energetic. The sound was great, we were sitting right in front of the speakers and I could still hear once the concert was over. The Mule was excellent. And we had no problems getting to and from the show. This was an overall enjoyable experience. I rate this a 5 twirl show.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Sarah Palin Quits
Sarah Palin quits her Governors position. Why isn't this shocking news? Because it fits with her "I am going to take my ball and go home" personality. Sarah has always portrayed herself to be prettier, smarter, holier and better than most everyone else. Too bad those traits were only in her mind. When anyone proved that she wasn't as superior in real life as she viewed herself she would whine. Katie Couric treated me unfairly with her questions that I was not smart enough to answer. John McCains people didn't portray me in the right light, it is their fault we lost the election. The republican party wants me to speak at a dinner Ok I'll do it, no I wont, you betcha I will, can't make it, what do you mean they found a different speaker, I AM SARAH PALIN. David Letterman made fun of my family and I want an apology. that apology is not good enough I want a better one. David get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness. Forget it I don't forgive you no matter what you do. Alaska legislature wont back my bad ideas fine I quit.
Rush Limpdick thinks this a good move on Mrs. Palins part. "If anything this woman's M. O. is outside-the-box, not formulaic" Rush said ( I could not find the word Formulaic in the dictionary , Rush just makes up words to sound impressive but I digress) . She is proving she should be inside a box, a padded box. Insane people are not formulistic, their thoughts are helter skelter just like Sarah's thoughts.
Sarah says she did not want to be a lame duck Governor. So don't be a lame duck Governor. Do your job. Get along with the other elected officials and work to pass legislation that is good for the State of Alaska. When the going gets tough Sarah Palin quits. I will say one thing for her no one will be able to pin any of her failed policies on her because from here on out Alaska's problems are not hers any more they are the new governors problems.
Lets review Sarah's qualifications for President.
Beauty Queen; No bearing on Presidential Qualification.
Education; Communications degree. My father would say she might as well get a degree in basket weaving.
Political accomplishments; Mayor of a small town in Alaska, Governor for half a term before she quit. Pretty much has been as useless as tits on a bull.
Gets along well with others, Not.
Family; Hen pecked husband, Unwed teenage pregnant daughter, parade autistic child around for sympathy votes.
If she runs for President you betcha she is not getting my vote. Quitter.
Rush Limpdick thinks this a good move on Mrs. Palins part. "If anything this woman's M. O. is outside-the-box, not formulaic" Rush said ( I could not find the word Formulaic in the dictionary , Rush just makes up words to sound impressive but I digress) . She is proving she should be inside a box, a padded box. Insane people are not formulistic, their thoughts are helter skelter just like Sarah's thoughts.
Sarah says she did not want to be a lame duck Governor. So don't be a lame duck Governor. Do your job. Get along with the other elected officials and work to pass legislation that is good for the State of Alaska. When the going gets tough Sarah Palin quits. I will say one thing for her no one will be able to pin any of her failed policies on her because from here on out Alaska's problems are not hers any more they are the new governors problems.
Lets review Sarah's qualifications for President.
Beauty Queen; No bearing on Presidential Qualification.
Education; Communications degree. My father would say she might as well get a degree in basket weaving.
Political accomplishments; Mayor of a small town in Alaska, Governor for half a term before she quit. Pretty much has been as useless as tits on a bull.
Gets along well with others, Not.
Family; Hen pecked husband, Unwed teenage pregnant daughter, parade autistic child around for sympathy votes.
If she runs for President you betcha she is not getting my vote. Quitter.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, Beachland 7/8/09
I'm not a huge country fan and so I was kind of in the dark when I went to the Beachland Ballroom to see Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women. I was surprised at how good this band was musically and they were the cutest damn band I have seen ever. Dave Alvin, originally of the Blasters, has formed a truly remarkable band of all women. They played music off of their new album entitled "Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women" and did some of the Dave's older material also. The music was folk at times, then switched to Texas swing, bluesy and rockin. Most of the night my toes were tapping. Finishing off the night with a rockin version of "Que Sera Sera". It's not your Doris Day song any more.
I don't know what else these women are guilty of but I can tell you one thing they are guilty of and that is being virtuosos on there respective instruments.
Cindy Cashdoller (her real name) played lap steel guitar and dobro. She could make bluesy soulful sounds and also turn to swing at a drop of a cowboy hat. Cindy is from Austin and has played with Asleep at the Wheel, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Marcia Ball and Jorma Kaukenen. A hot blond with a mean slide.
Cristy McWilson seemed to be Dave's favorite woman, as he explains that he knew Christy since she was 11 years old. She seemed a bit shy until she unleashed her roots music vocals that took you back to the hills for a good old stomp in the woods. There was something about Miss McWilson that kept reminding me of the movie "Oh Brother where Art Thou". Maybe it was her hurky jerky way of dancing or just her old timey drawl of her vocals. Christy is from Seattle Washington and has been recording since the 1980's. Oh yeah and she was pretty cute too.
Petite, redhead, Amy Farris, violinist extraordinaire. She could make a song swing with her violin. Sometimes she played soft and sometimes she was rough, but she obviously came to play. This little spitfire gave the band its old time country sound. Hailing from Austin, Texas the little girl with the big violin sound was very easy on the eyes. She has played with some of the greats such as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Dusty Springfield, Emmy Lou Harris and Neko Case.
On bass was Sarah Brown. She was raised on blues and played with Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Bill Kircher and Wanda Jackson. Sarah stayed in the background but was always there bringing the band together. She is from Ann Arbor, Michigan but could play with all of these old timey country gals. I would not kick her out of bed for hitting a wrong note, if you know what I mean.
Lisa Pankratz hid behind her drum kit but boy could she play. On a few songs I thought the rest of the band was just going to stop playing and let her go wild. The crowd would have loved it. She kept the blues beats rolling but she could swing when she had to. I would compare her to Led Zepplins Bonneham but it would be an insult to Lisa, because she can play, but she is so much cuter than Bonzo.
Dave Alvin and his baritone voice blended nicely with Chrity McWilson's tenor and Amy Farris' alto vocals. Dave is a guitarist versed in his version of country blues, swing and rock.
The older crowd loved him. When the Beachland puts chairs for people to sit on the crowd seems more subdued. I don't know if it is because the crowd is older or is it because of the chairs. I had a good time and would go back to see this band again.
Eilen Jewell warmed up. She has a haunting voice, very crisp and clear. I think you will be hearing more from her in the near future. Her guitarist, Jerry Miller, was an older gentelman than you would expect to be playing with a younger girl like Miss Jewell, but a very good country guitarist. Her encore was the old English classic "Shakin' All Over", with shakes in my knee bones, a very eerie yet sensuous version. I like her and would go to see her again.
I rate this show 4 twirls with some moth catcher hand moves.
I don't know what else these women are guilty of but I can tell you one thing they are guilty of and that is being virtuosos on there respective instruments.
Cindy Cashdoller (her real name) played lap steel guitar and dobro. She could make bluesy soulful sounds and also turn to swing at a drop of a cowboy hat. Cindy is from Austin and has played with Asleep at the Wheel, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Marcia Ball and Jorma Kaukenen. A hot blond with a mean slide.
Cristy McWilson seemed to be Dave's favorite woman, as he explains that he knew Christy since she was 11 years old. She seemed a bit shy until she unleashed her roots music vocals that took you back to the hills for a good old stomp in the woods. There was something about Miss McWilson that kept reminding me of the movie "Oh Brother where Art Thou". Maybe it was her hurky jerky way of dancing or just her old timey drawl of her vocals. Christy is from Seattle Washington and has been recording since the 1980's. Oh yeah and she was pretty cute too.
Petite, redhead, Amy Farris, violinist extraordinaire. She could make a song swing with her violin. Sometimes she played soft and sometimes she was rough, but she obviously came to play. This little spitfire gave the band its old time country sound. Hailing from Austin, Texas the little girl with the big violin sound was very easy on the eyes. She has played with some of the greats such as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Dusty Springfield, Emmy Lou Harris and Neko Case.
On bass was Sarah Brown. She was raised on blues and played with Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Bill Kircher and Wanda Jackson. Sarah stayed in the background but was always there bringing the band together. She is from Ann Arbor, Michigan but could play with all of these old timey country gals. I would not kick her out of bed for hitting a wrong note, if you know what I mean.
Lisa Pankratz hid behind her drum kit but boy could she play. On a few songs I thought the rest of the band was just going to stop playing and let her go wild. The crowd would have loved it. She kept the blues beats rolling but she could swing when she had to. I would compare her to Led Zepplins Bonneham but it would be an insult to Lisa, because she can play, but she is so much cuter than Bonzo.
Dave Alvin and his baritone voice blended nicely with Chrity McWilson's tenor and Amy Farris' alto vocals. Dave is a guitarist versed in his version of country blues, swing and rock.
The older crowd loved him. When the Beachland puts chairs for people to sit on the crowd seems more subdued. I don't know if it is because the crowd is older or is it because of the chairs. I had a good time and would go back to see this band again.
Eilen Jewell warmed up. She has a haunting voice, very crisp and clear. I think you will be hearing more from her in the near future. Her guitarist, Jerry Miller, was an older gentelman than you would expect to be playing with a younger girl like Miss Jewell, but a very good country guitarist. Her encore was the old English classic "Shakin' All Over", with shakes in my knee bones, a very eerie yet sensuous version. I like her and would go to see her again.
I rate this show 4 twirls with some moth catcher hand moves.
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