OK The Browns have won three games in a row. Mike Holmgren is going to be President of the organization next year. People are talking like Manidiot and his staff have all of a sudden got this team playing like a playoff team. If only they could have pulled it all together earlier in the season. Well they didn't pull it together earlier in the season and do you know why? Because they were playing teams like Minnesota, Denver, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Green Bay and San Diego. Real playoff contender teams. Who have we beaten? Pittsburgh (OK that is our Super Bowl), Buffalo, Kansas City and Oakland the dregs of the NFL. Speaking of dregs we lost to Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago. So all we have proven is that we are better than the worst teams in the league. Hey believe me winning is a lot better than losing and I will take a "W" over an "L" every time.
People are starting to ask has Manidiot saved his job for next year? Manidiot wasn't going anywhere next year win or lose. Randy Lerner is still paying Romeo Crennel this year and next year. If Randy fires Manidiot he will be paying three coaches in one year for a losing team. The man has money but not that much money. Manidiot is here for at least two more seasons unless he really screws up next year or Holmgren sees a chance to grab a top notch coach with proven credentials. Buddy Ryan's autistic son could be gone next year and so could Duh-boll but Manidiot is here to stay.
Even in winning three games our quarterbacks still look flawed. Quinn was awful against Pittspuke 6 of 19 and KC 10 of 17 for a total of 66 yards and Anderson was 8 of 17 against Oakland.
Our running game looked good against KC and Oakland but Jerome Harrison only had nine yards on 7 carries against Pittsburgh. Jerome has had good games against Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Kansas City and Oakland. Seven out of 15 games he played good in. Good being three yards or more on average per carry. He needs to be good 15 out of 15 games. We need to find another running back to help carry the load.
Vickers and our offensive line look good against the Chiefs and the Raiders. Four weeks ago people were telling me how it was the offensive line that made Quinn look bad. No Quinn just is bad and the line is just OK. The defense still has plenty of holes to fill and Buddy Ryan's autistic son has to go. A replacement for Duh-boll would not break my heart either.
Believe me I love winning but don't start talking playoffs to me when we can only beat losing teams. When we start beating teams that finish with a record above 500 I will start praising and believing in this team.
People have said we are screwing up our draft picks. No we are not. The first three picks in the draft hamper your salary cap for at least three years. You are better off getting the fourth or fifth pick in the draft where the salaries for a rookie become somewhat palatable. At least Manidiot wont be in charge of the draft this year. We have a proven guy in Holmgren that will be keeping Manidiot in check. Go Browns!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Browns and Quinn Lovers
I don't get it. Why do my Sundays have to be interrupted by a person who admittedly "is not that into football", calling me to tell me how "Brady Quinn plays with all heart". One drive of 8 plays that results in a TD does not make a football player great or a team win.
I honestly believe that Brady Quinn is and always will be a mediocre NFL quarterback. The Browns will stick with him ad nauseum through the end of this year and all the way through next year. His years at Notre Dame were plagued with great play against inferior teams and miserable displays of inaccuracies when put up against a formidable opponent. At Notre Dame he never won any bowl games or a national championship. He looks like a Hollywood version of what a quarterback should look like. Women and gay guys think he is hot. In the NFL you can't just look good you have to produce, which Quinn has not done.
So the Browns score a touchdown and right of way my phone rings. Duuude, did you see that. How can you not like a guy like that? Quinn plays with all heart. That drive was all Quinn. If you don't think that Quinn is All Pro then the Moral Compass doesn't know shit about football. Woo Hoo maybe now Quinn will get a Fruit of the Loom endorsement and we will be able to see what a real man he is. OK, I just threw that last one in for effect.
I watched the whole game not just eight plays. Here is what I saw. 6 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 5 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 8 plays TD. 7 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 9 plays, punt. 7 plays turnover on downs. The only positives in all of this is no interceptions or lost fumbles. We had fewer penalties than the Bengals but one costly one at the end of the first half that cost us 3 points.
Quinn was 16 for 34 in pass completions for a yardage average of 3.1 yards per pass. Our running game averaged 3.2 yards per carry. How could I not see how great Quinn is? Pay me Millions of Dollars I can throw a ball 4 yards. Quinn is looking for the quick short pass he is not looking down field. Is he scared of getting hit? Is Daboll telling him to throw short? Sunday he did not look poised in the pocket.
My friend tells me that our line sucks. I don't feel that our offensive line is that bad. We could probably use an upgrade at right tackle. Quinn was only sacked once the whole game. The receivers drop the ball my friend screams. Yes I did see some dropped passes but I saw more passes that were thrown behind the receivers or over their heads or in the dirt. I saw miscommunication with a receiver running a fly and Quinn throws for the button hook. The receiver runs a button hook and Quinn throws an out pattern. And I am tired of the dinks and dunks, throw down field already. The kid just does not look sharp.
I don't blame Quinn for all of this loss. We have no number one receiver. Our Running backs are mediocre. Our corner backs and safeties suck. Our linebackers are banged up. Our offensive and defensive lines are just OK nothing spectacular. and our MVP is out leaving our punting game suspect. Get well soon Dave Zastudill.
Our team last year was not that good and Manidiot dismantled any talent we had. Dabolls play calling is horrendous. Two screen passes to Cribbs both for losses when you only need two yards, terrible. The players said that they could here the Bengals defense calling out "watch the screen". At that point shouldn't the QB call an audible rather than let Cribbs get crushed? Buddy Ryans autistic son could not stop the run if the running back only had one leg. I don't know why the Bengals even tried to throw the ball, they could have run up and down the field all day.
The Browns are the worst team in the NFL and probably the worst team ever in the history of the Cleveland Browns. Quinn is not the only questionable player on the team but he definitely is not the answer. So please do not call my house to tell me how great Quinn is until he has a couple of wins in a row under his belt. Do you think we can get McCoy for next year? We should have the first pick in the draft again next year.
I honestly believe that Brady Quinn is and always will be a mediocre NFL quarterback. The Browns will stick with him ad nauseum through the end of this year and all the way through next year. His years at Notre Dame were plagued with great play against inferior teams and miserable displays of inaccuracies when put up against a formidable opponent. At Notre Dame he never won any bowl games or a national championship. He looks like a Hollywood version of what a quarterback should look like. Women and gay guys think he is hot. In the NFL you can't just look good you have to produce, which Quinn has not done.
So the Browns score a touchdown and right of way my phone rings. Duuude, did you see that. How can you not like a guy like that? Quinn plays with all heart. That drive was all Quinn. If you don't think that Quinn is All Pro then the Moral Compass doesn't know shit about football. Woo Hoo maybe now Quinn will get a Fruit of the Loom endorsement and we will be able to see what a real man he is. OK, I just threw that last one in for effect.
I watched the whole game not just eight plays. Here is what I saw. 6 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 5 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 8 plays TD. 7 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 9 plays, punt. 7 plays turnover on downs. The only positives in all of this is no interceptions or lost fumbles. We had fewer penalties than the Bengals but one costly one at the end of the first half that cost us 3 points.
Quinn was 16 for 34 in pass completions for a yardage average of 3.1 yards per pass. Our running game averaged 3.2 yards per carry. How could I not see how great Quinn is? Pay me Millions of Dollars I can throw a ball 4 yards. Quinn is looking for the quick short pass he is not looking down field. Is he scared of getting hit? Is Daboll telling him to throw short? Sunday he did not look poised in the pocket.
My friend tells me that our line sucks. I don't feel that our offensive line is that bad. We could probably use an upgrade at right tackle. Quinn was only sacked once the whole game. The receivers drop the ball my friend screams. Yes I did see some dropped passes but I saw more passes that were thrown behind the receivers or over their heads or in the dirt. I saw miscommunication with a receiver running a fly and Quinn throws for the button hook. The receiver runs a button hook and Quinn throws an out pattern. And I am tired of the dinks and dunks, throw down field already. The kid just does not look sharp.
I don't blame Quinn for all of this loss. We have no number one receiver. Our Running backs are mediocre. Our corner backs and safeties suck. Our linebackers are banged up. Our offensive and defensive lines are just OK nothing spectacular. and our MVP is out leaving our punting game suspect. Get well soon Dave Zastudill.
Our team last year was not that good and Manidiot dismantled any talent we had. Dabolls play calling is horrendous. Two screen passes to Cribbs both for losses when you only need two yards, terrible. The players said that they could here the Bengals defense calling out "watch the screen". At that point shouldn't the QB call an audible rather than let Cribbs get crushed? Buddy Ryans autistic son could not stop the run if the running back only had one leg. I don't know why the Bengals even tried to throw the ball, they could have run up and down the field all day.
The Browns are the worst team in the NFL and probably the worst team ever in the history of the Cleveland Browns. Quinn is not the only questionable player on the team but he definitely is not the answer. So please do not call my house to tell me how great Quinn is until he has a couple of wins in a row under his belt. Do you think we can get McCoy for next year? We should have the first pick in the draft again next year.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Browns worst team in NFL
Well it is official, the Browns are the worst team in the NFL. They could not even beat the Detroit Lions.
The Browns run up a score of 24 to 10 in the first quarter and cannot hold onto the lead. This is the highest offensive production the Browns have had in over a year and the defense cannot hold up their end. At the half it is 27 to 24 the Browns are still winning but failing fast.
Fourth quarter with 1:01 left on the clock Detroit takes over on offense the score is Browns 37 Detroit 31. Detroit is on their own 29. The autistic child of Buddy Ryan implements his best defense that makes Matt Stafford look like John Elway. Stafford starts to complete passes for first downs and then spike the ball to stop the clock. The Lions march to the Browns 32 yard line with 8 seconds left on the clock. Time for one more pass to the end zone. Stafford's pass is short and intercepted by Brodney Pool in the end zone. There is a flag on the play, Defensive Pass Interference on Poteate. The pass was so short that Poteate did not have to stop Mosley from going for the ball, Mosley could not get to it anyway. It is now Detroit's ball on the one yard line with no time left on the clock. Matt Stafford gets one last chance to score from the one yard line. Stafford is acting like he has a dislocated shoulder but still completes the pass to win the ball game 38 to 37.
This game was to see who is the worst team in the whole NFL and the Browns won or I mean lose. Manidiot please do me a favor and eat rat poison. Buddy Ryan have your son committed already. Daboll your offense had a decent day but remember this was the Detroit Lions, lets see what you do against the Bengals next week. So Daboll you get a one week reprieve from my disgust.
I have had people tell me that we have to give this coaching staff two more years before we get rid of them. Bullshit, they all should be fired tomorrow. Mangini had a losing record when he came here. Rob Ryan came from a losing team that had a terrible defense. Daboll is a rookie offensive coordinator that is lost in the position. The Moral Compass predicted when Randy Lerner hired Mangini that it was a mistake. I hate it when I am right.
The Browns run up a score of 24 to 10 in the first quarter and cannot hold onto the lead. This is the highest offensive production the Browns have had in over a year and the defense cannot hold up their end. At the half it is 27 to 24 the Browns are still winning but failing fast.
Fourth quarter with 1:01 left on the clock Detroit takes over on offense the score is Browns 37 Detroit 31. Detroit is on their own 29. The autistic child of Buddy Ryan implements his best defense that makes Matt Stafford look like John Elway. Stafford starts to complete passes for first downs and then spike the ball to stop the clock. The Lions march to the Browns 32 yard line with 8 seconds left on the clock. Time for one more pass to the end zone. Stafford's pass is short and intercepted by Brodney Pool in the end zone. There is a flag on the play, Defensive Pass Interference on Poteate. The pass was so short that Poteate did not have to stop Mosley from going for the ball, Mosley could not get to it anyway. It is now Detroit's ball on the one yard line with no time left on the clock. Matt Stafford gets one last chance to score from the one yard line. Stafford is acting like he has a dislocated shoulder but still completes the pass to win the ball game 38 to 37.
This game was to see who is the worst team in the whole NFL and the Browns won or I mean lose. Manidiot please do me a favor and eat rat poison. Buddy Ryan have your son committed already. Daboll your offense had a decent day but remember this was the Detroit Lions, lets see what you do against the Bengals next week. So Daboll you get a one week reprieve from my disgust.
I have had people tell me that we have to give this coaching staff two more years before we get rid of them. Bullshit, they all should be fired tomorrow. Mangini had a losing record when he came here. Rob Ryan came from a losing team that had a terrible defense. Daboll is a rookie offensive coordinator that is lost in the position. The Moral Compass predicted when Randy Lerner hired Mangini that it was a mistake. I hate it when I am right.
Monday, October 12, 2009
GOP The Unamerican Party
The wing nuts on the right, the radical right, the ditto sheep have become totally anti American. They cheer wildly when the United States loses the bid for the Olympics and they boo and criticize our President when he wins the Nobel Peace Award. Love it or leave it you bunch of white, fat cat, rich, lying, sodomites, who are pushing for anarchy. Rush, Beck Hannity and Steele all scream that there is too much government. They wish and pray that the President fails. They side with the French and the post Hitler Germans that say Obama does not deserve the Peace Prize. Russia, Cuba and Africa are all more willing to sit down and talk about peace now than in the past eight years. There has been dialogue between Palestine and Israel. In their hatred of a Black President the Republicans have lost sight of the fact that we are all Americans and should be proud when the world recognizes America for being the greatest nation in the world by honoring our President.
The United States and the world is in an economic crisis and the US getting the Olympics would have been an honor and a positive boost to the economy. The wing nuts on the right cheer the United States failure to land the Olympics. They cheer failure and refuse to get involved in any forms of bipartisan discussions. Disgusting, it turns my stomach to think that these people are even allowed in this country.
The NRA and the Radical Right used their scare tactics on their members in order to make record profits for the gun industry. As soon as Obama was elected the NRA and the radical right started to cry that the Obama regime was going to tax bullets so that people would not be able to afford them. The Administration was going to enact a law that all ammunition was going to have to have to be marked so that it would be traceable, therefor driving up the price and making ammunition unaffordable. The Government has been so busy trying to fix the economy and Health Care that they must have forgot about the bullets. The only thing that has happened is that the Right wing has scared all of the gun owners to go out and buy ammunition which depleted the supply and raised the demand so prices have skyrocketed. If you can even find a load for your gun it has probably doubled in price. In these hard economic times the gun industry is posting record profits thanks to the ditto sheep. Thank you Right wing radical liars for doubling the cost of me killing ground hogs. Hunting season is almost here and the deer should be happy that hunters can not afford to buy ammunition for their guns because of the underhanded tactics of the Right. To take hunting away from the people of the United States is disgusting and a disgrace, the NRA and the Radical Right should be ashamed of themselves. They are not ashamed, they are laughing all the way to the bank. Unamerican Bastards.
So the Republicans laugh and mock our president for winning awards and receiving world wide recognition for doing good. I guess they want a President that is hated and feared around the world. And how did that work out for us in the past? They cheer that a foreign country gets to host the Olympics. The GOP scares their constituents into buying ammunition and guns at higher than market prices, resulting in huge profits for the gun industry, by lying to Americans. They say no to fixing Health Care and lie about death panels. They refuse to even get into talks about how to fix the economy and then cry bipartisanship. And when the GOP was in power lied about weapons of mass destruction so that they could start a war that has cost Trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives and achieved little.
I am glad to say that I belong to the party that has not given up on Health Care reform. Hasn't given up on trying to boost the economy. The party that doesn't have to lie and scare its constituents into voting their way so that they can make the biggest profits while the workers starve. Yes Obama has not fixed all of the problems of the United States but he has only been in office 10 months while the Republicans had 12 years to screw it up. At least Obama doesn't have to lie to the people to get his way. Mr. President, congratulations on your award the true Americans are proud of you.
The United States and the world is in an economic crisis and the US getting the Olympics would have been an honor and a positive boost to the economy. The wing nuts on the right cheer the United States failure to land the Olympics. They cheer failure and refuse to get involved in any forms of bipartisan discussions. Disgusting, it turns my stomach to think that these people are even allowed in this country.
The NRA and the Radical Right used their scare tactics on their members in order to make record profits for the gun industry. As soon as Obama was elected the NRA and the radical right started to cry that the Obama regime was going to tax bullets so that people would not be able to afford them. The Administration was going to enact a law that all ammunition was going to have to have to be marked so that it would be traceable, therefor driving up the price and making ammunition unaffordable. The Government has been so busy trying to fix the economy and Health Care that they must have forgot about the bullets. The only thing that has happened is that the Right wing has scared all of the gun owners to go out and buy ammunition which depleted the supply and raised the demand so prices have skyrocketed. If you can even find a load for your gun it has probably doubled in price. In these hard economic times the gun industry is posting record profits thanks to the ditto sheep. Thank you Right wing radical liars for doubling the cost of me killing ground hogs. Hunting season is almost here and the deer should be happy that hunters can not afford to buy ammunition for their guns because of the underhanded tactics of the Right. To take hunting away from the people of the United States is disgusting and a disgrace, the NRA and the Radical Right should be ashamed of themselves. They are not ashamed, they are laughing all the way to the bank. Unamerican Bastards.
So the Republicans laugh and mock our president for winning awards and receiving world wide recognition for doing good. I guess they want a President that is hated and feared around the world. And how did that work out for us in the past? They cheer that a foreign country gets to host the Olympics. The GOP scares their constituents into buying ammunition and guns at higher than market prices, resulting in huge profits for the gun industry, by lying to Americans. They say no to fixing Health Care and lie about death panels. They refuse to even get into talks about how to fix the economy and then cry bipartisanship. And when the GOP was in power lied about weapons of mass destruction so that they could start a war that has cost Trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives and achieved little.
I am glad to say that I belong to the party that has not given up on Health Care reform. Hasn't given up on trying to boost the economy. The party that doesn't have to lie and scare its constituents into voting their way so that they can make the biggest profits while the workers starve. Yes Obama has not fixed all of the problems of the United States but he has only been in office 10 months while the Republicans had 12 years to screw it up. At least Obama doesn't have to lie to the people to get his way. Mr. President, congratulations on your award the true Americans are proud of you.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Farm Aid St Louis 2009
September 29th I get a call from my friend Randy from Buffalo, New York, he has an extra ticket to Farm Aid in St. Louis, Missouri, for Sunday October 4th. I ask my Honey Bunny if I can go she says "sure go". She is the best wife I could ever have. I check plane schedules, too expensive to fly. I decide to drive. Map Quest says it is 9 1/2 hours to get to St. Louis. I know I can shave at least an hour if not an hour and a half off of that time.
Friday Morning I get packed. I load the Avalanches CD player with traveling music, Joe Bonomassa, Dave Matthews, Will kimbrough, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and J. Giels. Between the CD's and XM radio, I should be able to make the trip with my sole still in tact. I take my friend Michael to the airport so that he can catch a flight to Texas then to Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet his wife where they will embark on a two week journey through the western landscape.
12:30 and I am on 71 South towards Columbus. Dark sky's and rain will be my companion for the first two hours of the trip. The music is blaring and I have cookies, peanut butter M & M's, Sour Dough Pretzels and water for nourishment. God help anyone who tries to get in my way now. The sugar buzz alone could kill most mortals. Add in the isolation and I am sure a madness will try and take over along the way.
I set landmarks to break up the trip. One hour to Mansfield. Another hour to I 270. A half hour to I 70. I know these roads well and can coast on auto pilot. Once on I 70 I have only been to Dayton twice in my life and Indianapolis once, after that I was in uncharted territory. Just me and my Biatch, the GPS to guide me. The rest of the trip on I 70 is just a flat out run from Indianapolis to Earth City Missouri. I can't wait to get there where I can blend in with the rest of the crazies and miscreants who have traveled from around the country to save the farmers.
Randy calls me when I am about two hours away from the hotel. He is in Chicago on a layover. He asks whether I am talking to myself yet. I tell him to beware of the bats. The bats are flying around but have not attacked yet. Randy knows Hunter so he could decipher what I was talking about. We should hit the hotel about the same time. I love when a plan comes together. I got to go, my voice is getting raspy from talking and I need it to keep singing.
I am the first to arrive at the hotel of our little foursome. Randy, Dave, Dave's cousin Karen and I will spend the next few days together playing tourist, gamblers, Farm Aid supporters and music fans, while enjoying the surrounds of St Louis, Missouri. I am only able to rest for about 15 minutes before Randy and the others arrive. We go and get some Bar B Que for dinner and head back to the hotel for a drink at the bar. The hotel is filled with many of the technical crew from Farm Aid. The TV crews and lighting personnel that we will meet in the bar will prove to be a wealth of information as far as the venue and schedule of times of the different acts to take the stage. Many of these techies have come from Memphis, Virginia, Maryland and other parts of the United States and are knowledgeable in music and seem stoked to be working the Farm Aid concert.
Saturday we wake late around 8:00. We all had to sleep in after the long day of travel. We have a group meeting in the lobby and decide that since we are in St Louis we need to go and see the Gateway Arch, tourists that we are. We pile in the truck and head East on I 70 to find the Arch. The Biatch is being temperamental and refuses to give me directions. Some day I am going to beat that Biatch like a red headed step child. So while I drive the four of us stare off into the sky until we catch a glimpse of the 640' silver arch. Now we have to figure out which exit to get off at, luckily there are signs that direct us off of the highway. We work our way through a maze of streets and find a parking lot close to the arch and under a highway overpass. No matter what city you go to there are always parking lots under the overpasses of the expressway.
We walk through the park to the Arch and go under the Arch where there is a museum commemorating the westward expansion of the United States. We finally talk Randy into taking the elevator up to the top of the Arch to view the City of St. Louis from the observation deck. We have to get into little cars that look like football helmets. Luckily I get separated from the other three and have to ride with a family that has two children about 9 and 11 years old. The kids do not take up much space, although one of them is kind of freaking out. Listen you little bastard I am not crazy about the confined space either but you do not feel me quivering from fear. Man up. Finally we are at the top.
Jesus Christ, who designed this lookout point a midget. I feel claustrophobic up here, my head almost touches the ceiling. The architect must have thought only gnomes, hobbits, trolls and ferries were going to come up here. The Arch is solid I don't feel it swaying in the wind like I expected it to and the view is pretty. OK we have had enough lets head down. Five grown ups climb into one of the Football helmets for the ride down. Let me explain Dave makes me look small. He is at least an inch taller, with size 17 feet and I can hide in his shadow. Needless to say the four and a half minute ride down was not very comfortable.
We now walk to the river and take a nice paddle wheal boat ride on the Mississippi River. The boat captain gave us a brief history of the river and the founding of St. Louis. A nice and relaxing trip. A bit cold at times but overall enjoyable. I met a veteran Farm Aid concert goer, from Maryland, on the boat. He had been to ten Farm Aid shows already. He plans his vacation around going to the concert every year. How much fun is that.
We now decide to play Lewis and Clark and walk what seems like to Kansas City. Truth be told it is about eight blocks to the Taste of St. Louis. The Taste of St. Louis is a street fair with lots of Bar B Que food, art work, trinkets and music. Admission is free and the food is reasonably priced. We eat ribs, ribs, pulled pork, ribs, pizza, ribs, beer, cheese cake a milk shake with a rolled up cookie in it and ice cream. Whew, lets head for the truck. Did I happen to mention that Dave can eat.
Back at the safe confines of the hotel Randy takes a nap, I stretch my back that is starting to bother me, Dave and Karen fall asleep. Randy wakes up and we go to the pool and swim in the cold pool water. Then hit the bar for a late night soup, salad and a Cuvasier. The techies are just getting in from their long day of setup and practice. We all start extending "howdy doos", "where you froms" and concert stories of days gone past. A schedule now appears out of a brief case that lets me know what times every group will be on stage if every thing runs on time. Randy and I decide we can miss some of the early acts, although Phosphorescent is one of the bands that I wanted to see that I will miss. If we head over to the amphitheatre around 2:30 I should be able to catch Billy Joe Shaver and the rest of the big acts. Thanks fellas for an enlightened enjoyable evening.
Sunday morning we all meet for a big breakfast and to discuss our game plan for the day. Get ready, head over to Harah's Casino for a few hours of gambling and Browns football, then off to the show. The Casino did not have a sports bar to watch the Browns so I headed to the video Poker machine. Three hands and I am up $50. I feel a big win in here today. OK I give back the $50 and the the original $20 that I put into the machine. I check the Browns score they are losing, go figure. I lose another $20. I check the Browns score they are tied. Ok I can live with that. I lose another $20. Thank God it is time to go and meet the others and head to the concert. I can't afford this place. The Browns are winning, hurray.
We get to the concert venue it is what Randy calls a "shed". A steel and concrete amphitheatre with a man made hill for lawn seating. It is not Red Rocks or Blossom Music Center, just a nondescript amphitheatre like many others spread out across the United States. We get to our seats six rows from the stage dead center, Nice. Jamey Johnson is on stage setting up. I don't like the looks of this where is Billy Joe Shaver. I look around and spot a couple that looks as though they have been there for a while and ask, "did Billy Joe Shaver play already?" "Yeah Yeah he's done" they tell me. I am bummed, so bummed, one of the highlights of my day was going to be seeing Billy Joe Shaver live. A living legend and I missed him. How do the Beatles say it "I'm down, I'm really down, I'm down, down on the ground".
Jamey Johnson starts playing and singing which lifts my spirits. Jamey Johnson has a deep voice that reminded me of Bo Cepheus. He reminded Randy of Kris Kristopherson. Country music but a good sound. I can listen to this. Jamey Johnson ends and I go for a walk to check out the vendors selling organic food, locally grown and raised by farmers. I get a pizza and a bottle of water.
Gretchen Wilson is up next, her band takes the stage. Dave and I decide to walk around and people watch and see what we can see. Young people, old people, farmers and city folk all together for a just cause or just to hear good music. Hey, I thought Gretchen Wilson was country? This band is playing "Lunatic Fringe" then they segue into "Rock You Like A Hurricane" by Scorpion. What the F is going on? Gretchen now joins her band and rocks out with "Here for the Party", "There's A Place In Whiskey" with a interlude to "La Grange" by ZZ Top. She ends her set with her big hit "Redneck Woman". All the women are singing along and dancing and having a good time.
Wilco comes out and slams Gretchen Wilson by asking "how many people here are not rednecks?" Over half the crowd applauds. Jeff tweedy the singer for Wilco explains that we are all just people here for a good cause, not just rednecks. Wilco plays a stellar set of music including the songs "Heavy Metal Drummer", "Casino Queen", which is about a casino that is across the Mississippi River in East St. Louis and "Hoodoo Voodoo". Nice guitar action between the two lead guitarists switching back and forth. I can understand why Wilco is making a name for themselves.
I guess I will stick around to hear Jason Mraz. I don't know much about him, lets see what the kids got. What Jason has is a nice kind of island, party sound. He sings a message of love and community and fellowship. I like it. I could do without the lame hand gestures he is trying to get the crowd to do, but I like it. Jason pulls out a nice rendition of "Spirit In The Sky". Much of the crowd is singing along. I like it.
The sun is starting to set when Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds start their set. I don't know who this Tim Reynolds is but I am sure going to find out. Tim can play guitar. Tim and Dave do an acoustic set playing some of Dave's music off of his new album Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King. "Funny the Way It Is" and "You and Me"Dave Matthews acknowledges that Willie Nelson's guitar is sitting behind him and just has to touch it, with one finger like a naughty little child. When Willie finally joins them on stage the trio performs a moving rendition of "Gravedigger". Dave and Tim finish the set with a great rendition of "Dancing Nancies". Dave is great with his band but he is equally good with Tim Reynolds acoustic. Dave is on the board of Farm Aid and said "The more we get behind things Willie believes in the better we'll be".
John Cougar Mellencamp takes the stage with a full band and rocks out his set. He opens with "Pink Houses", which gets the crowd on their feet. "Paper in Fire" and "Check it out " were very well done with a violin, accordian, two guitarist, a drummer and a bass player plus John. John did two acoustic songs then he brought the whole band back out to rock some more. John brought his 14 year old son out to try out for the band but he is not in the band yet, when they played a finale of "Authority Song". Mellencamp has to be about 60 years old and he still can rock and jump around on stage. Great set. I guess when you only have to fill an hour you might as well fill it with your rockingest, biggest hits.
Neil Young came on stage and said "We want our farms back". Neil Young had his regular band with him. His wife Pegi on backing vocals, Spooner Oldham on keyboards, Rick Rosas on Bass, Ben Kieth on Pedal Steel Guitar. Neil does a mostly acoustic set. He plays "Hold Back The Tears". A very soulful "Sail Away". Pegi's voice is very good tonight. Willie joined Neil and the band for a rousing rendition of "Home Grown". Willie and Neil really seemed to enjoying themselves on that one. Neil ended with "Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere". During the set Neil tore his red T shirt off exposing a green T shirt underneath saying "Family Farms". After Neil's set I went walking around and I heard some younger people talking. "Man when did Neil Young become so angry?" "Yeah, he is a grouchy old guy". I guess they have never believed in, or been involved in, a cause as much as Neil is. Kids, go figure.
Willie Nelson came out and said "Family farmers are the first rung of economics in this country". Yes they are. The salt of the earth. The hard working men and women who make this country great. Speaking of great what a set Willie performs. Willie performed some of his greatest hits like "Whiskey River", "Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys", "On The Road Again", "Always On My Mind". He had his son Lukas join him and take the lead for a blues filled rendition of "Me and Paul" and "Shoe shine Man". Willie had Billy Joe Shaver come on out on stage since he was late and did not perform earlier. Doh! I was bummed out for nothing. Billie Joe Shaver performed with Willie "Just Because You Asked Me To" and "Fast Train To Georgia". Two legends singing together, excellent. I am totally happy or so I thought.
During the set Willie takes off his cowboy hat and frisbees it out into the audience. The hat flutters out over my head then starts back towards the stage. I leap as I high as I can. I must have looked like Shaquille O' Neal going for a rebound. I get my hands on the hat but another fan has a grip on the hat also. I give a tug and fall back into my chair, the hat is mine. A bit beat up from the tussle but mine none the less. The smile on my face has to be from ear to ear. Willie throws out bandannas at every show. I don't know how often he throws out a cowboy hat. Now I wonder if I am on the Farm Aid live broadcast? I will have to buy the DVD when it comes out.
Willie brings his Indian entourage out with any of the performers who want to come out on stage for a bit of gospel music. As a group they perform "I'll Fly Away", a wonderful version of "Amazng Grace" and anyone who is left in the crowd is singing along with "I Saw The Light". Willie was on top of his game all day. Farm Aid brings out the best in him.
A wonderful, wonderful day. Oh except for during the concert I was talking to the people sitting next to Randy and they were from Cincinnati, my Browns lost in overtime. Ahh who cares, Farm Aid was fun and I have Willies hat. I rate this a five twirl show with some moth catcher hand moves thrown in. This is an event I can scratch off of my bucket list. Maybe I will plan my vacation around it.
Monday morning load up the car and fill the CD player with some new CD's. Let's see, how about some Van Morrison, Jerry Garcia Band, Melissa Etheridge, Paul Thorn, Grace Potter and Government Mule. I have eight hours of sunshine, singing and good memories ahead. I have Willies hat on my head and I am off.
If you text the word farmer to 90999 five dollars will be donated to Farm Aid in your name and billed to your phone bill. Please try and help the small family farmer out by buying local produce and meats and donating to Farm Aid.
Friday Morning I get packed. I load the Avalanches CD player with traveling music, Joe Bonomassa, Dave Matthews, Will kimbrough, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and J. Giels. Between the CD's and XM radio, I should be able to make the trip with my sole still in tact. I take my friend Michael to the airport so that he can catch a flight to Texas then to Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet his wife where they will embark on a two week journey through the western landscape.
12:30 and I am on 71 South towards Columbus. Dark sky's and rain will be my companion for the first two hours of the trip. The music is blaring and I have cookies, peanut butter M & M's, Sour Dough Pretzels and water for nourishment. God help anyone who tries to get in my way now. The sugar buzz alone could kill most mortals. Add in the isolation and I am sure a madness will try and take over along the way.
I set landmarks to break up the trip. One hour to Mansfield. Another hour to I 270. A half hour to I 70. I know these roads well and can coast on auto pilot. Once on I 70 I have only been to Dayton twice in my life and Indianapolis once, after that I was in uncharted territory. Just me and my Biatch, the GPS to guide me. The rest of the trip on I 70 is just a flat out run from Indianapolis to Earth City Missouri. I can't wait to get there where I can blend in with the rest of the crazies and miscreants who have traveled from around the country to save the farmers.
Randy calls me when I am about two hours away from the hotel. He is in Chicago on a layover. He asks whether I am talking to myself yet. I tell him to beware of the bats. The bats are flying around but have not attacked yet. Randy knows Hunter so he could decipher what I was talking about. We should hit the hotel about the same time. I love when a plan comes together. I got to go, my voice is getting raspy from talking and I need it to keep singing.
I am the first to arrive at the hotel of our little foursome. Randy, Dave, Dave's cousin Karen and I will spend the next few days together playing tourist, gamblers, Farm Aid supporters and music fans, while enjoying the surrounds of St Louis, Missouri. I am only able to rest for about 15 minutes before Randy and the others arrive. We go and get some Bar B Que for dinner and head back to the hotel for a drink at the bar. The hotel is filled with many of the technical crew from Farm Aid. The TV crews and lighting personnel that we will meet in the bar will prove to be a wealth of information as far as the venue and schedule of times of the different acts to take the stage. Many of these techies have come from Memphis, Virginia, Maryland and other parts of the United States and are knowledgeable in music and seem stoked to be working the Farm Aid concert.
Saturday we wake late around 8:00. We all had to sleep in after the long day of travel. We have a group meeting in the lobby and decide that since we are in St Louis we need to go and see the Gateway Arch, tourists that we are. We pile in the truck and head East on I 70 to find the Arch. The Biatch is being temperamental and refuses to give me directions. Some day I am going to beat that Biatch like a red headed step child. So while I drive the four of us stare off into the sky until we catch a glimpse of the 640' silver arch. Now we have to figure out which exit to get off at, luckily there are signs that direct us off of the highway. We work our way through a maze of streets and find a parking lot close to the arch and under a highway overpass. No matter what city you go to there are always parking lots under the overpasses of the expressway.
We walk through the park to the Arch and go under the Arch where there is a museum commemorating the westward expansion of the United States. We finally talk Randy into taking the elevator up to the top of the Arch to view the City of St. Louis from the observation deck. We have to get into little cars that look like football helmets. Luckily I get separated from the other three and have to ride with a family that has two children about 9 and 11 years old. The kids do not take up much space, although one of them is kind of freaking out. Listen you little bastard I am not crazy about the confined space either but you do not feel me quivering from fear. Man up. Finally we are at the top.
Jesus Christ, who designed this lookout point a midget. I feel claustrophobic up here, my head almost touches the ceiling. The architect must have thought only gnomes, hobbits, trolls and ferries were going to come up here. The Arch is solid I don't feel it swaying in the wind like I expected it to and the view is pretty. OK we have had enough lets head down. Five grown ups climb into one of the Football helmets for the ride down. Let me explain Dave makes me look small. He is at least an inch taller, with size 17 feet and I can hide in his shadow. Needless to say the four and a half minute ride down was not very comfortable.
We now walk to the river and take a nice paddle wheal boat ride on the Mississippi River. The boat captain gave us a brief history of the river and the founding of St. Louis. A nice and relaxing trip. A bit cold at times but overall enjoyable. I met a veteran Farm Aid concert goer, from Maryland, on the boat. He had been to ten Farm Aid shows already. He plans his vacation around going to the concert every year. How much fun is that.
We now decide to play Lewis and Clark and walk what seems like to Kansas City. Truth be told it is about eight blocks to the Taste of St. Louis. The Taste of St. Louis is a street fair with lots of Bar B Que food, art work, trinkets and music. Admission is free and the food is reasonably priced. We eat ribs, ribs, pulled pork, ribs, pizza, ribs, beer, cheese cake a milk shake with a rolled up cookie in it and ice cream. Whew, lets head for the truck. Did I happen to mention that Dave can eat.
Back at the safe confines of the hotel Randy takes a nap, I stretch my back that is starting to bother me, Dave and Karen fall asleep. Randy wakes up and we go to the pool and swim in the cold pool water. Then hit the bar for a late night soup, salad and a Cuvasier. The techies are just getting in from their long day of setup and practice. We all start extending "howdy doos", "where you froms" and concert stories of days gone past. A schedule now appears out of a brief case that lets me know what times every group will be on stage if every thing runs on time. Randy and I decide we can miss some of the early acts, although Phosphorescent is one of the bands that I wanted to see that I will miss. If we head over to the amphitheatre around 2:30 I should be able to catch Billy Joe Shaver and the rest of the big acts. Thanks fellas for an enlightened enjoyable evening.
Sunday morning we all meet for a big breakfast and to discuss our game plan for the day. Get ready, head over to Harah's Casino for a few hours of gambling and Browns football, then off to the show. The Casino did not have a sports bar to watch the Browns so I headed to the video Poker machine. Three hands and I am up $50. I feel a big win in here today. OK I give back the $50 and the the original $20 that I put into the machine. I check the Browns score they are losing, go figure. I lose another $20. I check the Browns score they are tied. Ok I can live with that. I lose another $20. Thank God it is time to go and meet the others and head to the concert. I can't afford this place. The Browns are winning, hurray.
We get to the concert venue it is what Randy calls a "shed". A steel and concrete amphitheatre with a man made hill for lawn seating. It is not Red Rocks or Blossom Music Center, just a nondescript amphitheatre like many others spread out across the United States. We get to our seats six rows from the stage dead center, Nice. Jamey Johnson is on stage setting up. I don't like the looks of this where is Billy Joe Shaver. I look around and spot a couple that looks as though they have been there for a while and ask, "did Billy Joe Shaver play already?" "Yeah Yeah he's done" they tell me. I am bummed, so bummed, one of the highlights of my day was going to be seeing Billy Joe Shaver live. A living legend and I missed him. How do the Beatles say it "I'm down, I'm really down, I'm down, down on the ground".
Jamey Johnson starts playing and singing which lifts my spirits. Jamey Johnson has a deep voice that reminded me of Bo Cepheus. He reminded Randy of Kris Kristopherson. Country music but a good sound. I can listen to this. Jamey Johnson ends and I go for a walk to check out the vendors selling organic food, locally grown and raised by farmers. I get a pizza and a bottle of water.
Gretchen Wilson is up next, her band takes the stage. Dave and I decide to walk around and people watch and see what we can see. Young people, old people, farmers and city folk all together for a just cause or just to hear good music. Hey, I thought Gretchen Wilson was country? This band is playing "Lunatic Fringe" then they segue into "Rock You Like A Hurricane" by Scorpion. What the F is going on? Gretchen now joins her band and rocks out with "Here for the Party", "There's A Place In Whiskey" with a interlude to "La Grange" by ZZ Top. She ends her set with her big hit "Redneck Woman". All the women are singing along and dancing and having a good time.
Wilco comes out and slams Gretchen Wilson by asking "how many people here are not rednecks?" Over half the crowd applauds. Jeff tweedy the singer for Wilco explains that we are all just people here for a good cause, not just rednecks. Wilco plays a stellar set of music including the songs "Heavy Metal Drummer", "Casino Queen", which is about a casino that is across the Mississippi River in East St. Louis and "Hoodoo Voodoo". Nice guitar action between the two lead guitarists switching back and forth. I can understand why Wilco is making a name for themselves.
I guess I will stick around to hear Jason Mraz. I don't know much about him, lets see what the kids got. What Jason has is a nice kind of island, party sound. He sings a message of love and community and fellowship. I like it. I could do without the lame hand gestures he is trying to get the crowd to do, but I like it. Jason pulls out a nice rendition of "Spirit In The Sky". Much of the crowd is singing along. I like it.
The sun is starting to set when Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds start their set. I don't know who this Tim Reynolds is but I am sure going to find out. Tim can play guitar. Tim and Dave do an acoustic set playing some of Dave's music off of his new album Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King. "Funny the Way It Is" and "You and Me"Dave Matthews acknowledges that Willie Nelson's guitar is sitting behind him and just has to touch it, with one finger like a naughty little child. When Willie finally joins them on stage the trio performs a moving rendition of "Gravedigger". Dave and Tim finish the set with a great rendition of "Dancing Nancies". Dave is great with his band but he is equally good with Tim Reynolds acoustic. Dave is on the board of Farm Aid and said "The more we get behind things Willie believes in the better we'll be".
John Cougar Mellencamp takes the stage with a full band and rocks out his set. He opens with "Pink Houses", which gets the crowd on their feet. "Paper in Fire" and "Check it out " were very well done with a violin, accordian, two guitarist, a drummer and a bass player plus John. John did two acoustic songs then he brought the whole band back out to rock some more. John brought his 14 year old son out to try out for the band but he is not in the band yet, when they played a finale of "Authority Song". Mellencamp has to be about 60 years old and he still can rock and jump around on stage. Great set. I guess when you only have to fill an hour you might as well fill it with your rockingest, biggest hits.
Neil Young came on stage and said "We want our farms back". Neil Young had his regular band with him. His wife Pegi on backing vocals, Spooner Oldham on keyboards, Rick Rosas on Bass, Ben Kieth on Pedal Steel Guitar. Neil does a mostly acoustic set. He plays "Hold Back The Tears". A very soulful "Sail Away". Pegi's voice is very good tonight. Willie joined Neil and the band for a rousing rendition of "Home Grown". Willie and Neil really seemed to enjoying themselves on that one. Neil ended with "Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere". During the set Neil tore his red T shirt off exposing a green T shirt underneath saying "Family Farms". After Neil's set I went walking around and I heard some younger people talking. "Man when did Neil Young become so angry?" "Yeah, he is a grouchy old guy". I guess they have never believed in, or been involved in, a cause as much as Neil is. Kids, go figure.
Willie Nelson came out and said "Family farmers are the first rung of economics in this country". Yes they are. The salt of the earth. The hard working men and women who make this country great. Speaking of great what a set Willie performs. Willie performed some of his greatest hits like "Whiskey River", "Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys", "On The Road Again", "Always On My Mind". He had his son Lukas join him and take the lead for a blues filled rendition of "Me and Paul" and "Shoe shine Man". Willie had Billy Joe Shaver come on out on stage since he was late and did not perform earlier. Doh! I was bummed out for nothing. Billie Joe Shaver performed with Willie "Just Because You Asked Me To" and "Fast Train To Georgia". Two legends singing together, excellent. I am totally happy or so I thought.
During the set Willie takes off his cowboy hat and frisbees it out into the audience. The hat flutters out over my head then starts back towards the stage. I leap as I high as I can. I must have looked like Shaquille O' Neal going for a rebound. I get my hands on the hat but another fan has a grip on the hat also. I give a tug and fall back into my chair, the hat is mine. A bit beat up from the tussle but mine none the less. The smile on my face has to be from ear to ear. Willie throws out bandannas at every show. I don't know how often he throws out a cowboy hat. Now I wonder if I am on the Farm Aid live broadcast? I will have to buy the DVD when it comes out.
Willie brings his Indian entourage out with any of the performers who want to come out on stage for a bit of gospel music. As a group they perform "I'll Fly Away", a wonderful version of "Amazng Grace" and anyone who is left in the crowd is singing along with "I Saw The Light". Willie was on top of his game all day. Farm Aid brings out the best in him.
A wonderful, wonderful day. Oh except for during the concert I was talking to the people sitting next to Randy and they were from Cincinnati, my Browns lost in overtime. Ahh who cares, Farm Aid was fun and I have Willies hat. I rate this a five twirl show with some moth catcher hand moves thrown in. This is an event I can scratch off of my bucket list. Maybe I will plan my vacation around it.
Monday morning load up the car and fill the CD player with some new CD's. Let's see, how about some Van Morrison, Jerry Garcia Band, Melissa Etheridge, Paul Thorn, Grace Potter and Government Mule. I have eight hours of sunshine, singing and good memories ahead. I have Willies hat on my head and I am off.
If you text the word farmer to 90999 five dollars will be donated to Farm Aid in your name and billed to your phone bill. Please try and help the small family farmer out by buying local produce and meats and donating to Farm Aid.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Will Kimbrough Honky Tonk House 9/11/09
Jay and Tammy, the gracious hosts of Honky Tonk House Concerts, are a friendly couple who have opened their house to music lovers for an up close, personal, concert experience. The house is your typical split level home with an attached garage and a family room under the bedrooms. The house could be found in any suburb built in the 1960's. This house is located in Streetsboro, Ohio. We started our experience in the garage and driveway at 7:00PM with a smorgas board of food and BYOB drinks. The food ranged from shrimp, fried Bar B Que chicken wings, macaroni and potato salad to chips and dip. The fans were very knowledgeable in music and a pleasure to talk with.
At around 8:00 the night of Americana music started with a teenage couple who performed 2 original songs. A nice gesture on Jay and Tammy's part to offer support to some local young budding talent.
Then Chris Castle took the stage or should I say the floor there isn't a stage just a few spotlights mounted and pointed at a spot against the wall of the family room. A very homey touch but a bit crowded. Chris is a local Americana/folk singer from Norwalk, Ohio who wears suits, weighs 115 pounds and drives and lives part time in a white cargo van. He is a story teller using song to convey his message. Most of his music was pretty quiet this night. I wish he would have cranked it up a notch and rocked a little. I don't know Chris's music that well and maybe he just has a quiet style. I liked the song "Both Ends of a Gun", a sad song with an up beat tempo. Chris played for about an hour then we all took a short breather outside.
Will Kimbrough the alien, was up next. Will uses a loop where he records a back beat strumming chords on his guitar, then plays a lead guitar over the top of the back beat he just created. Will came right out of the box with one of my favorite songs "Eden Prairie" playing guitar, harmonica and singing, showing why he is a talent that I enjoy seeing over and over again. Will is a great lyricist which is evident in "Nobody From Nowhere", a saying his father used to say. The next three songs are modern Americana music at its finest, "Horseshoe Lake", "Godsend", "Hill Country Girl". Then came a funny little song about a laundry mat "Wash and Fold". "He ain't Right" is a bluesy song with lyrics from Tommy Womack and music by Will Kimbrough. Now Will starts rocking with "Another Train". Will finishes the set with "Three Angels", a new song "Wings" and "Redemption Every Mothers Son". Wow that could have been the whole concert and it was just Will's first set.
During the break I heard one man complain that Will was unplugged and not playing his electric guitar. This idiot actually left the show. Yes, I love to hear Mr. Kimbrough play his electric guitar but to hear him unplugged is still a treat. You would have to be a fool to walk out on Will Kimbrough at any time.
My Honey Bunny and I go and buy an autographed copy of Will Kimbrough's last CD "Daddy for a Second Time". Will is standing around talking to all of us and signing autographs and just having a good time.
Will comes out and jams with his guitar and harmonica on "Piece of Work". He shows off his guitar prowess on "This Modern World". He talks about past friends who get mad and hold grudges then jumps into "I Don't Like It". He has a brief interlude into the old song "Tequila" during the song "Cape Henry". Will slows down for "She came from Philadelphia". He sings about corporate corruption in "Ed McGuire". Then he sings about a 15 year old prostitute who has eyes that look like she is 65, "Rotten Apple of Daddy's Eye", nice slide guitar solo. Will's vocals really shined on "Keep Your Eye On The Road". He gets everyone involved in a sing along in the next two songs"You Made Your Bed" you got to lay in it and "Yo Yo Ma", on both of these songs he was showing off his guitar work with slide and finger pickin. He slows the show down with "Good Night".
Will Kimbrough now brings a local folk artist named Joe Linstrum up to jam with him. Joe shows he can play guitar on Hank Williams "I'll Leave You Now". They then go back and forth exchanging licks on a song, Will called, "Get Rhythm". Joe and Will dig in for "I've Got Love to Spare". I never have seen Joe Linstrum before but I would not hesitate to see him again. The young man can play.
For a finale Will breaks out a banjo and Joe Linstrum is still seated in the spotlight and for a kicker Chris Castle sits off to Wills right with his guitar. Everyone who knows me knows I love a good jam session. The three of them jam out to "Thank God I Don't Have a Gun". They finish the evening with a Tommy Womack song "Vicky Smith". I'm in heaven. There were some magical moments during this jam session.
Will was on top of his game tonight. He talked and joked with the crowd. Played his music with expert precision. Seemed very relaxed and in a good mood. Mr. Kimbrough is always polite and will talk with you if you approach him. Tonight he seemed eager to talk to people. He told some good stories about his life and his music. You got to love an entertainer like this.
It is now after 1:00 AM when they finish. A hat is sitting on the bar and you can throw any amount of money that you think the show is worth into the hat. I tossed in $40 for me and my Honey Bunny. If I wasn't unemployed I would have thrown in more money. Over four hours of music in a small intimate setting where the artist will talk with you and sign autographs. Great!
Tammy and Jay thanks for the experience.
I give the show Five twirls.
Shows are judged on a five twirl system. Moth catcher hand motions count as half a twirl.
At around 8:00 the night of Americana music started with a teenage couple who performed 2 original songs. A nice gesture on Jay and Tammy's part to offer support to some local young budding talent.
Then Chris Castle took the stage or should I say the floor there isn't a stage just a few spotlights mounted and pointed at a spot against the wall of the family room. A very homey touch but a bit crowded. Chris is a local Americana/folk singer from Norwalk, Ohio who wears suits, weighs 115 pounds and drives and lives part time in a white cargo van. He is a story teller using song to convey his message. Most of his music was pretty quiet this night. I wish he would have cranked it up a notch and rocked a little. I don't know Chris's music that well and maybe he just has a quiet style. I liked the song "Both Ends of a Gun", a sad song with an up beat tempo. Chris played for about an hour then we all took a short breather outside.
Will Kimbrough the alien, was up next. Will uses a loop where he records a back beat strumming chords on his guitar, then plays a lead guitar over the top of the back beat he just created. Will came right out of the box with one of my favorite songs "Eden Prairie" playing guitar, harmonica and singing, showing why he is a talent that I enjoy seeing over and over again. Will is a great lyricist which is evident in "Nobody From Nowhere", a saying his father used to say. The next three songs are modern Americana music at its finest, "Horseshoe Lake", "Godsend", "Hill Country Girl". Then came a funny little song about a laundry mat "Wash and Fold". "He ain't Right" is a bluesy song with lyrics from Tommy Womack and music by Will Kimbrough. Now Will starts rocking with "Another Train". Will finishes the set with "Three Angels", a new song "Wings" and "Redemption Every Mothers Son". Wow that could have been the whole concert and it was just Will's first set.
During the break I heard one man complain that Will was unplugged and not playing his electric guitar. This idiot actually left the show. Yes, I love to hear Mr. Kimbrough play his electric guitar but to hear him unplugged is still a treat. You would have to be a fool to walk out on Will Kimbrough at any time.
My Honey Bunny and I go and buy an autographed copy of Will Kimbrough's last CD "Daddy for a Second Time". Will is standing around talking to all of us and signing autographs and just having a good time.
Will comes out and jams with his guitar and harmonica on "Piece of Work". He shows off his guitar prowess on "This Modern World". He talks about past friends who get mad and hold grudges then jumps into "I Don't Like It". He has a brief interlude into the old song "Tequila" during the song "Cape Henry". Will slows down for "She came from Philadelphia". He sings about corporate corruption in "Ed McGuire". Then he sings about a 15 year old prostitute who has eyes that look like she is 65, "Rotten Apple of Daddy's Eye", nice slide guitar solo. Will's vocals really shined on "Keep Your Eye On The Road". He gets everyone involved in a sing along in the next two songs"You Made Your Bed" you got to lay in it and "Yo Yo Ma", on both of these songs he was showing off his guitar work with slide and finger pickin. He slows the show down with "Good Night".
Will Kimbrough now brings a local folk artist named Joe Linstrum up to jam with him. Joe shows he can play guitar on Hank Williams "I'll Leave You Now". They then go back and forth exchanging licks on a song, Will called, "Get Rhythm". Joe and Will dig in for "I've Got Love to Spare". I never have seen Joe Linstrum before but I would not hesitate to see him again. The young man can play.
For a finale Will breaks out a banjo and Joe Linstrum is still seated in the spotlight and for a kicker Chris Castle sits off to Wills right with his guitar. Everyone who knows me knows I love a good jam session. The three of them jam out to "Thank God I Don't Have a Gun". They finish the evening with a Tommy Womack song "Vicky Smith". I'm in heaven. There were some magical moments during this jam session.
Will was on top of his game tonight. He talked and joked with the crowd. Played his music with expert precision. Seemed very relaxed and in a good mood. Mr. Kimbrough is always polite and will talk with you if you approach him. Tonight he seemed eager to talk to people. He told some good stories about his life and his music. You got to love an entertainer like this.
It is now after 1:00 AM when they finish. A hat is sitting on the bar and you can throw any amount of money that you think the show is worth into the hat. I tossed in $40 for me and my Honey Bunny. If I wasn't unemployed I would have thrown in more money. Over four hours of music in a small intimate setting where the artist will talk with you and sign autographs. Great!
Tammy and Jay thanks for the experience.
I give the show Five twirls.
Shows are judged on a five twirl system. Moth catcher hand motions count as half a twirl.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Browns Vs Baltimore 2009
OMG! Are the Browns terrible? Yes. An emphatic YES! Braylon Edwards off sides again. Brandon McDonald too small to cover the big wide receivers again. Elan to slow to help over the top again. Brady Quin with no long passes down field again. A coach who claims to be behind his quarterback, replacing the quarterback mid stream again. No Massaquoi (Massaquoi 1 reception) or Robiski again. No containment by the defense again. Edwards our number one receiver with only three catches again(actually this is an improvement). Me, vomiting by half time again.
While I was vomiting in a trash barrel next to the couch because of the nauseating play of the Browns I heard one of the analyst say "I saw the Browns last week in person and they actually look worse in person than on TV". I am unemployed and having to pay for over priced, premadonna athletes and coaches who would not be in the BCS rankings for the national championship if they played in the NCAA makes me sick. GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY. Boy am I glad I dumped some of my tickets before the season started.
Randy, Mangini was going to be the answer to all of our football problems. You had to have him. You could not wait two or three weeks to talk to Shanahan. Noooo, Mangini is the Man. Randy, Please sell the team. You and your family have tortured us long enough. Next year you are going to have to get the Rolling Stones to play during the game if you want anyone to show up.
Our defense looks as bad as our defensive coordinator. Rob Ryan is a disgusting pig of a human being. This pregnant looking, long haired, autistic, swine of a person could not demand respect from any creature on earth much less a bunch of over paid athletes. If you don't respect yourself how can you expect others to respect you. Rob Ryan, you are disgusting, your father should be ashamed of you. Your own brother was smart enough not to hire you. Randy how could you let this goof into your organization?
Is Daboll calling for little dink and dunk passes or is it that pretty boy Brady Quinn just can't perform at the NFL level. Brady Quinn, Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, Notre Dame, now we see why everyone else passed on this no talent hack. I can't believe that we traded up to grab this guy. Brady do us a favor and go and model underwear. You are not a NFL quarterback.
Mangini replaced almost half of last years team with his own players. Twenty four new players on a 53 man roster. He has no excuses. The players he has are the players who have the character to play for a hard nose coach like Mangini. He brought in old Jets players who were going to nurture the younger players. Doesn't look like his idea worked very well. I told you early on that I was skeptical of Mangini but if he wins I would love him. He ain't winning Lucy.
Bright spots of the game. Harrison can run and catch the ball. Zastudill, the punter, is MVP three weeks in a row. Furrey is a decent number two receiver. Too bad that we do not have a number one or number three receiver to help out. Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati. The game ended before I totally dehydrated myself.
While I was vomiting in a trash barrel next to the couch because of the nauseating play of the Browns I heard one of the analyst say "I saw the Browns last week in person and they actually look worse in person than on TV". I am unemployed and having to pay for over priced, premadonna athletes and coaches who would not be in the BCS rankings for the national championship if they played in the NCAA makes me sick. GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY. Boy am I glad I dumped some of my tickets before the season started.
Randy, Mangini was going to be the answer to all of our football problems. You had to have him. You could not wait two or three weeks to talk to Shanahan. Noooo, Mangini is the Man. Randy, Please sell the team. You and your family have tortured us long enough. Next year you are going to have to get the Rolling Stones to play during the game if you want anyone to show up.
Our defense looks as bad as our defensive coordinator. Rob Ryan is a disgusting pig of a human being. This pregnant looking, long haired, autistic, swine of a person could not demand respect from any creature on earth much less a bunch of over paid athletes. If you don't respect yourself how can you expect others to respect you. Rob Ryan, you are disgusting, your father should be ashamed of you. Your own brother was smart enough not to hire you. Randy how could you let this goof into your organization?
Is Daboll calling for little dink and dunk passes or is it that pretty boy Brady Quinn just can't perform at the NFL level. Brady Quinn, Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, Notre Dame, now we see why everyone else passed on this no talent hack. I can't believe that we traded up to grab this guy. Brady do us a favor and go and model underwear. You are not a NFL quarterback.
Mangini replaced almost half of last years team with his own players. Twenty four new players on a 53 man roster. He has no excuses. The players he has are the players who have the character to play for a hard nose coach like Mangini. He brought in old Jets players who were going to nurture the younger players. Doesn't look like his idea worked very well. I told you early on that I was skeptical of Mangini but if he wins I would love him. He ain't winning Lucy.
Bright spots of the game. Harrison can run and catch the ball. Zastudill, the punter, is MVP three weeks in a row. Furrey is a decent number two receiver. Too bad that we do not have a number one or number three receiver to help out. Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati. The game ended before I totally dehydrated myself.
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