Drew's Odds and Sods

Bryson Andres

2012-02-02T21:07:00.003-06:00

I picked this off my other blog. the JT Irregulars. Posted by my friend OrbsCorbs. I thought this guy was just amazing... Here's my comment I left over there.

This guy is awesome....

My first thought was of the talented French jazz fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, an incredible musician whom has played for Frank Zappa and Mahavishnu Orchestra.

What I see and hear is this guy, Bryson Andres, playing an electric violin through an amplifier using foot pedals for effects. Incredibly talented he is...playing with heartfelt soul and integrity unlike many so called corporate sponsored musicians out there.

Talent, soul, expression and integrity are some of ingredients I look for in music. I could sit on the curb for hours listening to this guy. That's more than I could say the likes of Justin Beiber and such...

Wildlife Pictures

2012-01-28T15:04:00.011-06:00

I enjoy photography as well as watching wildlife. It makes perfect sense to try a hand in wildlife photography. It's not easy as it may sound. Certainly can't get a wild animal to pose for a picture. By the time the camera gets focused, they're gone. However, I've managed a few pics, but nothing like a National Geographic...

A prairie dog at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota

A California Rail at the Upper Newport Bay Reserve by Newport Beach, California

Sea Lions off the coast of California at Dana Point

A Ringed Neck Pheasant by a storage shed in Shawano, Wisconsin

A Praying Mantis on a gas pump here in Racine, Wisconsin

A Red Tailed Hawk at River Band Nature Reserve in Racine, Wisconsin

A Striped Skunk on the side of the road near UW-Parkside in Kenosha, Wisconsin

An Opossum wandering in my backyard

In Stereo...

2012-01-26T21:35:00.001-06:00

So far, so good....my neighbors haven't complained, yet.

I've been enjoying a wall of sound surrounding me as I'm typing away at my computer in my little corner of my apartment. After downsizing my storage, transferring books to new bookshelves and rearranging furniture to make room for more crap, my stereo finally found a new home-in my bedroom. Now that everything is closer to me, it's kind of nice to hear my vinyl and cassettes on a regular basis.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, I don't own an I-Pod. Most of my music that I have are channeled at 150 watts through 11 inch woofers of a pair of Pioneer CS-K531 speakers. The rest through factory installed car stereo and computer speakers. You just can't get the ambient, vibrant feeling through a 2 x 4 inch thin box full of disposable downloaded songs with headphones. I need something surreal, something to look at and to appreciate. That's were my stereo comes in.

Considered the state of art back in '84, my folks got me this system as a graduation gift. Since then, it has been my baby.

(from top to bottom)

Sony CDP 291 compact disc player
Sherwood TD-2010 CP AM/FM Digital Synthesizer Tuner
Sherwood AD 2210 CP Integrated Amplifier
Sony TC-WE825S Dual Cassette Player
Sherwood ST-870 Belt Drive Semi Automatic Turntable
Pioneer CS-K531 Speakers with 11" woofers, 5'' mid range and 3" tweeters
KLH Speakers with 7" woofers, "4" mid range and 2" tweeters

Now, all the Sherwood systems are original as I got them in '84, working great with no issues. The CD player I got back in the '90's for $15o from a friend is now on it's last leg. (I still can slap a disc in the computer). Working on getting a new one. I've gone through three tape decks already. The motors that run the cassettes have worn down and died from repeated recording over the years. I've had a Sherwood to start with before I killed a Magnavox and a Yamaha along the way. The Sony that I'm using, I bought at a rummage sale for five bucks, is serving me just perfectly. Hell, I've got a Little Feat tape rollin' right now.

So where are you channeling your tunage on?

The Big Chill

2012-01-22T19:06:00.008-06:00

Over the weekend, we a festival here in downtown Racine called the Big Chill. Among the attractions were the Door County Sled Dogs and a snow sculpting contest. I didn't go (I'm not much of a fan of the cold weather), but I took these pictures as I passed through downtown. Had to hurry up to take the pictures, rain was coming in as it was slowly was dissolving the artwork.

Hello from the Big Chill.

Magnum Tractors built in Racine at J.I Case

I don't think that is Clarence Clemons

I'm not sure what that is, but it looks cool...

A vision of paradise on a tropic island....

Mice fighting over cheese?

Stop SOPA and PIPA

2012-01-18T21:31:00.002-06:00

Please watch this video, this could concern all Internet users out there.

What I'm Watching....

2012-01-17T17:20:00.003-06:00

With winter here and being cold outside with nowhere to go, I tend to stay indoors and watch a little more tube than usual... Here are some of the shows I find myself watching.

NCIS- The abbrevion for Naval Criminal Investigative Service. A well written murder mystery show the revolves around an exceptional cast of characters. In its ninth season now, I love the individuality of each character ranging from the Gothic forensic scientist to the mysterious father figure team leader Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

Mythbusters- This is a man's show. Explosives, firearms and controlled mayhem in the name of science. Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman and their motley crew of "builders" take popular and Hollywood myths and test them with their own unique ways to see if a myth was plausible or not. I was cackling like a crazed lunatic watching pieces of a bulldozer fall from the sky after being blown up by 250 lbs of ANFO.

Law and Order Special Victims Unit- A well written crime mystery set on the streets of New York. Based on stories "ripped from the headlines", the show revolves around Detectives Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson solving crimes sexual in nature. Whats more is the victim take a spotlight on the episodes.

Naruto Shippuden- The kid in me will watch animation forever. I've always loved the superhero and Star Wars cartoons, especially when the illustrations are well done. Japanese anime fascinates me as well, especially Naruto. Naruto was created by Misashi Kishimoto for Japan's weekly Shonen Jump magazine, later translated to English by Viz Media. Televised versions of the manga began to appear om Cartoon Network back in 2005. I began to get into it a couple of years later. The story basically is about a young ninja who through series of battles, tries to rid of hatred and tries to bring peace to the ninja community. I watch it weekly on Hulu.

That '70's Show- A comedy show that reminds me of my younger days. Set in the fictional Point Place, Wisconsin, this show takes the comic version of the '70's, hence the name. The jokes and references to various of my favorite bands are mentioned here and well as of my home state. Then there is the 'circle'... (Sounds familiar? It did to me..) Hell, my girlfriend thinks I'm a lot like Hyde.

I also to like to watch movies (I'm quite fond of "The Lord of the Rings" type movies) nature programs and dinosaur documentaries. What are you watching on TV?

Packers NFC Divisional Playoff

2012-01-15T20:37:00.003-06:00

The Green Bay Packers season ended today with a loss the New York Giants 37-20 today at Lambeau Field.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

Early in the game the Giants made it clear that it was their time to shine, scoring first.

The Packers wouldn't give up especially Aaron Rodgers, who ran for yardage quite a bit.

The strong defense of the Giants forced the the Packers to turnover the ball four times during the game.

Dropped passes, blown coverages and missed tackles did it in for the Pack.

The Giants' QB Eli Manning was hot. He went 21 0f 33 for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a "Hail Mary"of the end of the first half.

More on the game here.

All in all it was an excellent season for the Packers. They only lost two games total... Better luck next year!

So, What's Been Going On These Days?

2012-01-14T21:09:00.005-06:00

I just seem haven't to have that much time to write lately....So here what's been going on.

This morning I pulled off another eight hour shift starting at 4 AM, making my tally up to 56 hours worked this week. I'm tired, I'm beat and had enough of machinery for awhile. Getting up early and working ten hour shifts does take a toll on you, especially when you suffer midnight leg cramps from overexerting yourself. The paychecks are great, but sleeping in does sound nice.

Winter finally came roaring in last Thursday after an extremely mild season so far, dumping 6-7 inches of the white crap. The snow lovers might like this shit, but I don't. If the slippin' and slidin', trying to navigate a leased Chevy HHR through town isn't nerve wrecking itself, it's the other idiots on the road that I have to watch for. I once saw a car with only a small porthole of the windshield cleared of snow going down the road! Unreal... I have no clue to how he saw anything... I still say, I can live without ever seeing another snowflake again.

A funeral was held this afternoon for (one of) my ex-wife's boyfriends. Didn't go and don't even care. O.k., I may sound like a cynical asshole, but I really don't like this guy. Not only this subnormal Neanderthal has cheated and beat my ex-wife numerous times, he even brags about it. Not only that, his rap sheet is a novel. This jobless wonder's convictions range mostly from failure to pay child support, resisting arrest to DUI. My ex-wife basically left me for crack headed winners like these. Am I jealous? No. Just scratching my head to why? If he was a better fuck than me, big deal. If she would have remarried to a loving doctor or a lawyer, I would be happier. Oh well....

Oh yeah, he died of a heart attack. He was in his '50s. My guess crack had something to do with it.

The good news is, my girlfriend is a hell a lot better she ever was. I have been thinking of future plans with her that includes the possibility of marriage....

During the first week of the new year, Cheri and I spent time reorganizing our apartment. With her daughter gone visiting her brother, we cleared away the storage to make room more things. My stereo finally came into the bedroom where the computer is. So great to hear vinyl on a regular basis again.... Right now, I'm kicking it out with the Pretenders.

Speaking of music, while shopping for a dresser at a thrift store I picked up some interesting albums. Some of the them seemly rare vinyl. Among them are the Beach Boys Wow! A Great Concert! (Pickwick), the Beach Boys Surfin' Safari (Capitol), Grand Funk We're an American Band (Yes, with the transparent yellow vinyl and stickers), the Guess Who American Woman, the Guess Who The Best of the Guess Who (Poster included) and Bill Hailey & the Comets Rock & Roll.

So what you been up to, lately?

Carnival of Lights

2012-01-12T21:01:00.010-06:00

Here's a blog post that I forgotten to write since the New Year...

On New Years' Day, my girlfriend and I went out the the Carnival of Lights... Located at a Jellystone Campground a few minutes from my house, a $15 a car trip around the campsite proved to be a nice getaway after a dinner at a Wild Buffalo Wings in Oak Creek. Talk about an impressive display of Christmas lights....

The beginning of the road...

Lights, lights everywhere!

Somewhere in the middle.

Santa's house...

Yep, that how money lights were there....

New Doors and Van Halen Tunes

2012-01-10T18:44:00.002-06:00

As heard in the news lately, the David Lee Roth fronted Van Halen will tour this year to support their new album (the first since 1984) titled, A Different Kind of Truth. The album is to be released February 7. Here is a newly released video from the new album called "Tattoo" The song is alright. Could have easily came off from the Diver Down album with a twist of Roth's solo work. Eddie's guitar solo kicks ass. Missing here are Micheal Anthony's backing vocals. With a few more listens I'd be able to appreciate it a little more....

Thought they have cleared the vault. Next is the yet to be released song from the upcoming release of the 40th Anniversary Edition of the Doors' L.A. Woman. This song is a sure fire killer! To me, it's up there with "Riders on the Storm", "L.A. Woman", and "Love Her Madly" off of the album. The song is a rollicking blues number with smokin' piano solo from Ray Manzarek and jangling guitars from Robbie Kreiger as well as some repetitive poetry from the Lizard King as well...

What do you think?

Star Wars Burger

2012-01-08T18:33:00.004-06:00

An interesting read from an article I read in the Huffington Post...

"A Belgian fast food chain Quick recently announced that its French outposts will serve the Star Wars–inspired burgers through early March. There are three themed varieties to choose from, each with its own unique connection to the movie.

Of the three promotional burgers, the one getting the most buzz is the one that's gone over to the dark side — literally. It's named the "Dark Vador Burger" (it's unclear why the reference to Darth Vader is spelled incorrectly — rights issues, perhaps?) and comes complete with a black bun. We're not talking any natural color derived from dark-hued grains — the bun is actually a deep black, presumably artificial color, which matches perfectly with the outer-space background in the Quick advertisement.

The other two burgers, the "Dark Burger" and the "Jedi Burger," seem relatively normal compared to the black bun of the "Dark Vador." The "Dark Burger," which is inspired by Darth Maul, looks as though it has a dark seasoning like poppy seeds or black sesame seeds on the bun, but otherwise appears pretty standard. The "Jedi Burger" (positioned next to Yoda in the advertisement), however, has a strange white topping that could be cheese."

I don't about people these days-anything for a buck I guess... Which one would you try?

Rock and Roll Predictions for 2012

2012-01-06T19:37:00.004-06:00

Rock and roll always have been hard to predict thought I'd give a try...

Bruce Springsteen will run for governor of New Jersey, after all he's the Boss.

Justin Beiber would be invited to tour with the reunited Black Sabbath for the so the sole purpose of chopping him up and tossing his parts to a rabid audience. His management says no. Despondent over the decision, Beiber overdoses on Skittles.

Ozzy Osbourne will quit midway though the tour. Replacing him James Durbin.

A mob of angry fans storm the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and take Jann Wanner hostage. Their demands-Rush being inducted into RRHoF.

Later that evening, the Red Hot Chili Peppers take the stage, playing "Fire". Another riot ensues.

Axl Rose arrives two hours late for his induction.

Don Henley and Glen Frey from the Eagles join forces with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley from KISS to form a new band called the Ego's KI$$. They release an album for $50 a pop, only sold at Walmart.

Not to outdone by Micheal Jackson, Gene Simmons will set himself on fire in a Dr. Pepper commercial.

Scientists will finally figure out what came first, Lady Gaga or the egg.

Madonna will have a "wardrobe malfunction" at the Superbowl Halftime Show.

The Britteny Spears marriage will be over in less time the Kardishians.

Rapper 50 Cent will have an illegitimate child, naming him Quarter.

Rapper Eminem will be the spokesman for M&M candy.

David Lee Roth will split his pants doing a kick on stage during the Van Halen tour.

Packers Week #17

2012-01-01T20:24:00.002-06:00

The Green Bay Packer beat the Detroit Lions 45-41 in the last regular season game this afternoon at Lambeau Field.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

With nothing at stake in this game, the Packers rested up some key players like all star QB Aaron Rodgers, DB Matthew Clay, S Charles Woodsen and WR Greg Jennings.

It appeared early in the game that the Lions were going to take advantage of the Packers' second string by taking the lead.

Enter the Packers' backup QB, Matt Flynn who set franchise records with with 480 yards passing and six touchdowns., proving himself a very reliable back up to Rodgers.

It became a shoot out of a game, both teams exchanging leads throughout the game.

The Lions' QB Matthew Stafford, who threw for 520 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions was exceptional.

The Packers have ended their regular season with a 15-1 record. The have a first round playoff bye.

More on the game here.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T11:28:00.006-06:00

It's the eve of the new year and nothing fancy is set up to celebrate tonight. It just going to be my girlfriend and I tonight bringing in the new year alone. We've got snacks, drinks, movies and music to ring in the new year. It doesn't sound like much, but after years of going out drinking at bars (when I was younger) hanging in the crowds, it's nice to to spend that evening alone with woman I love.

2011 was better year than the past. While 2009 was a roller coaster of events, 2010 saw myself rising out of the ashes to find myself again. This year, not only I found myself, I found life to be truly enjoyable, especially in the small things. I have much to thank my girlfriend for that. Let's see how this year evolved...

After Christmas, last year my girlfriend and I settled into our routine of things. On Groundhog's Day, a blizzard of historic proportions slammed Southeast Wisconsin, dumping more than two feet of snow in the area, burying cars and shutting down I-94 from Milwaukee to Chicago. The National Guard was called in to help stranded motorists. The area was declared a civil emergency. Not since the winter of '77/'78 I've seen snow like this, nor I'd want to ever again.

Later that month, my battleship of a car, the '91 Chevy Caprice Classic I had was finally starting to hit the dust. After getting a $9oo estimate to replace the manifold it was time.... Found myself a 2007 Chevy HHR (a moving snowbank, my girlfriend calls it) for a descent price. However, dealing with the bank proved to be a nightmare.

It was springtime of peaceful bliss, except in April when my loveable golden retriever, Harley, had gotten very sick. To this day, it was unclear to what she was suffering from, but the thought of losing my ten year companion was unbearable for me.

Three graduations came in June. My son, Austin barely graduated from middle school to high school. Though I am proud to see my son growing up, but a little effort is needed out him to get better grades. My "daughter" Angel and my girlfriend's daughter, Kimmy both graduated from high school TOGETHER! It was a very heartwarming moment to see them both in their robes with their caps on to receive their diploma. Believe it or not. I cried at the ceremony. Both are now attending college here in Racine.

Life got busier by summer. My girlfriend and I went to Summerfest and saw Styx there. Despite having to deal with a large crowd, Styx pulled off an excellent show playing their classic hits. Streamers fell from the sky as HIV inflicted bassist John Panozzo joined the band for "Come Sail Away"

Mid July saw the conviction of my son's former 16 year old best friend, Christopher for the rape of my then two year old "granddaughter", ending a long and dark chapter in my life. He was sentenced to ten years in prison plus 15 more of extended supervision. It might not seem long enough, considering the lifetime of memories my 'granddaughter' will face. The only thing remains to why the sick little fucker pulled this stunt in the first place.

In August my girlfriend got a job working at a local grocery market as a cashier. It is certainly nice to know that my girlfriend is stepping up to plate to help out with the bills, especially with a car mortgage on my tail...

We missed a Doobie Brothers concert in September to witness the birth of my girlfriend's first grandchild in Shawano. Seeing the 7lb 4oz little girl in the arms of my girlfriend with a beaming smile was worth the trip. A concert will always come around, but moments like these I got to take when they come.

Cheri (my girlfriend) and I took numerous trips Up North over the past year. Easter, Christmas, her niece's wedding or just to visit. Going up there on Cheri's birthday was especially nice; we had a cabin to ourselves.

All in all, it was a great year with a few bumps on the road-nothing major. I'm hoping for an even better year to come in 2012. So my friends, cheers to the new year....ENJOY!

My Worst Albums of 2011 (That I Bought)

2011-12-30T23:22:00.000-06:00

Ozzy Osbourne Scream-2010 Like oil and water, some things don't mix. Ozzy Osbourne's latest album, Scream is the perfect example of that. Osbourne's guitarist Zakk Wylde had left the band to work full time with the Black Label Society, leaving the Prince of Darkness a void to fill. The answer was a new guitarist and a new direction-techno. Kudos to Osbourne for taking a risk, but this ends up sounding like a bad version of Nine Inch Nails with the screaming.

Kiss Revenge-1992 Was critically acclaimed to be one of the best post makeup Kiss albums. While some of the tracks like "Domino" may sound sonically refreshed, others sound rehashed and recycled from their early days. Makes a listener miss the original guitarist and drummer Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. What's even worse, I haven't listened to Carnival of Souls nor Hot in the Shade yet. Not sure I even want to...

Lynyrd Skynyrd God & Guns-2009 Ok, it's a hard rockin' rebel Southern redneck album with an attitude to match. So, what's not to like here? Something is missing here. What's missing here, unfortunately, is compassion and heart, the secret ingredients that the original late singer Ronnie Vant Zant represented in the legendary tunes like "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama". Sure, Ronnie younger brother Johnny tries to carry the torch, but with the numerous lineup changes and guitarist Gary Rossington being the sole remaining original member, maybe it's time to hang up the Skynyrd name and try something else.

Bruce Springsteen Diesel & Dust-2005 Zzzzzzzz.....Upon first listen, this album put me to sleep. It's somber, it's mellow and nothing I'd expected to hear from the Boss. Maybe, with repeated replays it'll grow on to me. With albums like Born to Run, Born in the USA and Working on a Dream high on my playlist, it'll take awhile.

Chicago XXX-2006 Their first true studio album in 15 years and sadly, it doesn't offer anything new to the plate. A shell of the original Chicago, the album sounds much weaker than their previous work. There is nothing memorable here. It may please the fans of the '80's Chicago, while alienate the fans early days.

Fantasy Football Champs

2011-12-28T19:07:00.003-06:00

It came down to match between the hippies and the Republicans. "The hippies came and occupied...." That was the championship game. The final game of the Irregular League Fantasy Football season. The match was between my team, the Racine Irregulars and Fred's (from Real Debate Wisconsin) Debate Team. Fred's team (who won last season) had been strong all season long, while mine struggled at first before finishing up strong.

Surprising was this season. In the four seasons I've doing this, I never done better than 5th place. In fact, in 2009, I came in dead LAST. That year, I was in over my head with personal issues to even care.

This year I got lucky. I got some good players on my team. The Packer's QB Aaron Rodgers and the Patriot's TE Rob Gronkowski were my most reliable players. San Francisco's RB Frank Gore, Philadelphia's WR Jeremy Maclin and New Orleans' Marques Colston helped out greatly. Picking up Oakland's RB, Micheal Bush proved beneficial for the team. Rounding out my team were, New York Giant's WR Hakeem Hicks, Dallas' kicker Dan Bailey and the defense of Cincinnati. My backups basically were New England's RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Dallas' WR Laurent Robinson.

All in all it was a great season. I have to thank my fellow Irregular and commissioner RW Wacko Stu for starting this league for all of us Irregulars (and non Irregulars) to enjoy. I had a blast!

Up North for a White Christmas?

2011-12-27T21:33:00.001-06:00

It has been a balmy winter so far here in Racine. With temperatures settling in the upper 30's and lower 40's for the last couple of weeks, anyone can envision any snow on the ground. The sun has already melted away the dusting we had last week Tuesday morning. That's quite alright with me. After more than forty years of dealing with slipping and sliding, shoveling and the hassle of the snow, I can honestly say I can live with never seeing another snowflake again..

That meant a freedom from the perils taking a roadtrip Up North to visit my family and friends over the Christmas holidays...

My girlfriend's kids arrived early Saturday morning from their place Up North for breakfast and an exchange of gifts. A nice little visit. Seeing my girlfriend holding her three month old granddaughter was worth its weight in gold... Shortly afterwards they headed south to visit their grandfather, we headed for the Northwoods...

A journey of an approximate 240 miles in 4 1/2 hours, winds through 13 counties to our destination to just north of Pickerel, WI. Yeah, it's WAY up there in the boondocks. It can be a relaxing and scenic journey for some, especially through the Menominee Reservation. The long and winding road alongside the scenic and wild Wolf River offers a primitive and picturesque view of the Dairy State.

This time around, the river was partially frozen and the snow covered pines gave a breathtaking view as the sun's last rays filled the sky with an orange glow.

We arrived shortly after dusk at my folks place. The succulent aroma of a turkey being prepared in a warm kitchen overpowered me. Homemade potatoes and excellent gravy filled my innards as pleasant talk among my family warmed the room. The gift exchange later that night yielded surprises, some of them mouth dropping. Hinda can say we got "spoiled", yet I'm eternally grateful.

After a well deserved night's sleep, my girlfriend, my son and I had to leave in the morning. As much as we wanted to stay for awhile, we had to head south to Shawano to visit my girlfriend's mother's place. It was here that we met up with my girlfriend's kids from their journey south. Seemed like a nice reunion of sorts. The food, I tell ya, another day of gluttony. Pizza, cookies, fudge and snacks everywhere. The surprise this time was my girlfriend's mother getting a boom box for Christmas. Talk about a smile from ear to ear.

The day had just begun. From there, onward south again to Appleton where my girlfriend's older sister had her annual Christmas gathering. More food, more people, more fun and a white elephant. Italian sausage, lasagna, more pizza and cookies, my stomach was about to burst at this point. There were people crammed in that house more that I could imagine fitting in. The white elephant? Oh yeah, it's game of which participants exchanges cheap unorthodox gifts for the laughs. I got a set of cups while my girlfriend got a box of tea. It was fun.

One more stop to go. Home. The race against the clock to make it home before the Packer-Bear game had begun... A two and half hour journey at highway speeds. We made it just in time...

So how did your Christmas go?

Packers Week #16

2011-12-25T23:48:00.005-06:00

Just got home minutes prior to the game from being Up North with my family. Anyways, the Green Bay Packers beat their NFC rivals, the Chicago Bears 35-21 at Lambeau Field tonight.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

The Packers struck first, scoring with a 2 yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Jermicheal Finley on their first drive.

After that, much of the first half was dominated by the Bears' running game. As good as it was, they only gained three points off a field goal.

The second half of the game, the Pack took over. Their defense tightened up with two interceptions and an exploding offense. The ending result was five touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers, two each to receivers James Jones and Jordy Nielson.

The Bears have lost five games in the row since losing their star QB Jay Cutler with a broken thumb. They have no chance to making the playoffs.

The Packers are 14-1 and have chinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

More on the game here.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T01:57:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Hobbit

2011-12-21T18:45:00.003-06:00

Ooooo... I just can't wait to see this! Coming to a theater in every city in December 2012, the first installment of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. Already being filmed on location in New Zealand, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, brings back familiar characters portrayed in the Lord of the Rings. Ian McKellen reprises his role as Gandalf the Grey, along with Ian Holmes, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood and Christopher Lee as Bilbo Baggins, Legolas, Frodo Baggins and Saruman the White, respectively. Newcomers Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage will be the young Bilbo and Thorin Oakensheild. Sounds exciting? YES!

What really has gotten me going was seeing this trailer...

I LOVED, LOVED the Lord of the Rings. As a kid, I must have read the books by J.R.R. Tolkien at least a thousand times before the movies came out. Usually. I prefer the books over the movie versions, however TLOR was a major exception. Not only the special effects dazzled me, it was the acting, the directing and the close similarities to the book that put the movie the top of my list of all time favorites. So, this movie should ought to a real treat...

For those who never read the Hobbit, it's a prelude to The Lord of the Rings. It's the book that started it all...

The plot according to a press release from Warner Bros. Pictures...

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

The second installment to be released in December 2013.

Packers Week #15

2011-12-18T18:32:00.002-06:00

I can't believe myself. The Green Bay Packers lost to the lowly Kansas City Chiefs 19-14 at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

Kansas City looked impressive through out the game, especially on the run..

It was QB Kyle Orton's first start for Kansas City. He threw 23 of 31 passes for 299 yards.

MVP Aaron Rodgers did worse, throwing 17 of 35 passes for 235 yards.

This was by far the most sloppy playing the Packers did ALL season long. Too damn many dropped passes ans penalties.

The Packers loss snapped a winning streak of 19 games dating to last year.

The Packers are now 13-1 and still are in the hunt for home field advantage through out the playoffs.

More on the game here.

My Top 2011 Albums (That I Bought)

2011-12-17T23:15:00.002-06:00

It's that time of the year again. The year end reviews, except this year I didn't get too many 2011 album releases. Money's tighter now and spent it on the more familiar names like Yes' Fly From Here. Instead, I bought many albums from rummage sales and burned many CD's from the local library, trying to fill the gaps and the holes in my collection. This year, I think I got too many albums (Is there a such things as too much music?) and now I've literary got stacks of vinyl, cassettes and CD's piled everywhere around me. Some of which I haven't gotten a chance to listen to yet, many I have. Here's a list of some of my favorites I've gotten my hands on this year...

John Lennon John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band 1970 I don't know why I never gotten any this sooner. Maybe it was mine preference for Paul McCartney. Any rate, this album is FANTASTIC! Inspired by his primal therapy, Lennon creates a revolutionary and harrowing set of unflinchingly personal songs, laying out his fears and angers for everyone to hear. Simple, yet extremely intense, Lennon pushes towards themes of child-parent relationships and psychological suffering.

Iron Maiden The Final Frontier 2010 Those who would of thought Iron Maiden was left for the dead are in for a surprise! Sounding much like the '80's Iron Maiden that I fell in love with, the reunited Maiden offers no compromises, just complexities and challenges and many moments of brilliance. It's an engaging effort with a cinematic vision.

XTC Skylarking 1986 Never really heard of XTC till I picked up their Oranges & Lemons at a rummage sale over the summer. I thought that one was phenomenal, yet I thought Skylarking was a notch better. Their lush post psychedelic pop-enhanced sound by detailed sweeping instrumentation reminds me of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's and REM's Murmur all wrapped up in a multidimensional package. Just plainly sheer brilliancy!

Mott the Hoople Mott 1973 "The rock and roll circus is back in town" sings frontman Ian Hunter in a line from "The Ballad of Mott the Hoople". The truth it may seem. Mott the Hoople keeps it straight forward, yet eccentric as they drive home with a collection of songs of road fraught with exhaustion, disillusionment and dashed hopes all told with a wry sense of humor.

Bruce Springsteen Working on a Dream 2009 Working On A Dream is the Boss's most exuberant and pop-orientated album for a long time. It is as if the swell of goodwill sweeping across anyone's soul...Bright and punchy, there is no pandering here, with Springsteen and the trusty E Street Band rocking and rolling with free abandon and sounding like they thoroughly enjoyed every single moment recording the album.

Marshall Tucker Band Running Like the Wind 1979 Like their southern colleges the Allman Brothers Band, the Marshall Tucker Band are known for their extended free flowing instrumental jams. The nine plus minute country flavored title track could take a listener on a dreamy ride across the wild western skyline interweaving flutes, guitars and fiddles. Aimless as it may sound, but it shows the strong musicianship within the Marshall Tucker Band.

Asia Phoenix 2008 Like the Phoenix of the title of their 2008 album, Asia has risen from the ashes and made their first studio album with their original lineup in a quarter century. This album have could easily followed their debut in the terms of musicianship. While 1983's Alpha was more pop oriented, Phoenix has a suppleness when they stretch out into multi-part suites while retaining a knack for big, arena pop hooks.

Yes Fly From Here 2011 A decade since their latest studio
album, Yes pulls off a keeper. Similar to their 1980 release of Drama in the terms of the lineup and feel, except the singer is the unknown Jon Anderson sound alike Benoit David. Drawing comparisons to the early days, the 25 minute eight part suite "Fly From Here" presents a depth and lushness that makes one think.

Black Keys Thickfreakness 2003 Inspired by the their success of last years' release of Brothers, it was only fitting to check out some of their older material. Recorded in the drummer Patrick Carney's basement in a single day, the Black Keys wail is hot, primal, and heartfelt. Dan Auerback's lean but meaty guitar lines and room-filling vocals drag the blues into the 21st century through sheer force of will without sounding like these guys are in any way mocking their influences.

UFO Obsession 1978 The last studio album to feature star guitarist Micheal Schenker. It did indeed contain lots of prime metal cuts. Much of the album is fun and carefree. The album kicks into gear with melodic tasty rockers without sounding lame and in your face. Under appreciated and often overlooked...

Too many albums and too little time....Some of them worth mentioning on this list. Steely Dan's Aja offers some great jazz rock. The North Mississippi Allstars Hernando has got some exceptional straight forward bluesy rock while Joe Satriani coughs up some extreme guitar work in The Extremist. Heart put out a great Christmas album in the Lovemonger's Christmas. The Dixie Dregs laid out some usual shit, blending southern fried boogie with progressive instrumental rock.

Coming soon.... the worst of 2011 plus the best dust blowers (if time applies...)

Packers Week #14

2011-12-11T19:51:00.002-06:00

The Green Bay Packers easily manhandled the Oakland Raiders 46-16 this afternoon at Lambeau Field.

Here are my thoughts of the game:

The Packers made it look easy against the Raiders...

Rodgers threw for 281 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in less than three full quarters' worth of work. Back up QB Matt Flynn filled in the forth quarter to rest up Aaron Rodgers. By then the score was 43-7

As opposed to Oakland's QB Carl Palmer- threw for 245 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions.

The only downside of the Packers' win was a knee injury to one of the Packers' many talented receivers Greg Jennings.

The Packers are now 13-0.

Christmas Cookies

2011-12-08T18:54:00.002-06:00

Man, am I stuffed! Just got back from another cunning ninja raid on my girlfriend's homemade Christmas cookies. Stealthily grabbing cookies when her back is turned. Until...I get caught.

"Are you into my Christmas cookies again?" she asks.
"Nope" I mumbled with a mouthful of a delicious treat, wondering if she knew that I had five more of them in my hand behind my back and two stuffed in each pocket.
"They are for CHRISTMAS!" she scolds, "Take ONE and leave the rest for our relatives."
Grabbing one, I slipped away to safety with my bounty...

The tradition continuous... Last year, my girlfriend held up the kitchen baking almost 30 dozen cookies from 12 different recipes. She had peanut butter blossoms, potato chip cookies, Goldfish drops, holiday bars, peanut butter cookies and of course, my favorite, a double batch of chocolate chip cookies stuffed in nook and cranny in the freezer. A seemingly endless supply of cookies... Think she'll miss a few? I hope not, because I love 'em!

Packers Week #13

2011-12-04T21:11:00.007-06:00

The Green Bay Packers beat the New York Giants 38-35 in this nail biter of a game at the Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

As I predicted, the Packers had their greatest battle of the season against the exceptional Giants.

Both teams seemed evenly matched at times exchanging leads.

Aaron Rodgers threw 28 of 46 for 369 yards and 4 touchdowns. Yet, he was sacked 3 times and threw one interception. (His fifth, all season).

Linebacker Clay Matthews also returned an interception 38 yards for a score in the second quarter.

The game came down to the wire when Packer kicker Mason Crosby kicked a 31 yard field goal at the last second to win the game.

The Packers are now 12-0 and cliched a spot in the playoffs.

More on the game here.

Album Covers

2011-11-30T17:19:00.006-06:00

Album covers fascinate me. They give a somewhat a visual perspective of the music hidden within their gate folds. The ones I really enjoy are the illustrated artwork, especially the ones done by Roger Dean. His cosmic architectural landscape design adorns albums from Yes, Asia and Uriah Heep. The photo above is one my favorites from Roger Dean- Yes Tales from Topographic Oceans.

Not just only Roger Dean I like, there is the Stanley Mouse/Alton Kelly combo whom does the Journey album covers and the "story" they tell.

Then there is Frank Franzetta's work on the Molly Hatchet and Nazareth album covers. Very medieval-screams rock and roll....

The portraits of "life, death and afterlife" of Iron Maiden's mascot Eddie are done by Derek Riggs. Some of them shockingly gruesome... What the hell, it's only rock and roll!

Another one I like is the Grateful Dead's Blues for Allah album cover done by Philip Garris..

There many more I'd like to post, some other time maybe... So what is your favorite album cover?

Packers Week #12 Turkeys and Touchdowns

2011-11-24T15:51:00.003-06:00

My girlfriend had to work this morning, so I up ended with the task of making the turkey. Never made a turkey before, so this is a whole new experience for me. She did leave instructions on how to do it. So I think I'll manage... (I hope so)

Hours later, it's beginning to smell like Thanksgiving around here. The aroma of the turkey that is roasting in the oven is filling up my apartment sending pangs of hunger in my stomach. After spending time this morning stuffing an empty cavity of a deceased bird, I'm feeling hopeful. So far, so good...no smoke either...

The Green Bay Packers did route the Detroit Lions 27-15 this afternoon at the Ford Stadium. Here are my thoughts of the game...

The game was ugly and sloppy in the first half. A mostly defensive game filled with penalties.

In the second half, the Packers overcame their blunders and mental mistakes and stared playing real football. The Lions, however didn't.

Defensive back Ndamukong Suh of the Lions was ejected from the game for stepping on Evan Dietrich-Smith's arm in the third quarter. He could face a possible suspension.

Lions' Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions during the game. Hey, Aaron Rodgers only threw four during the ENTIRE season!

The Packers are 11-0 now. Still undefeated for the first time in franchise history...

More on the game here.

I hope everybody out there that is reading this is having a wonderful Thanksgiving! Love you all!

Packers Week #11

2011-11-20T19:19:00.002-06:00

The Green Bay Packers held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-26 at Lambeau field this afternoon.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

Aaron Rodgers didn't have a great of a game he normally does, yet when it counted he still shines.

Rodgers threw 23 of 34 passes for 299 yards, 3 touchdowns and one interception.

Rodgers has only 4 interceptions this year. Damn good.

Tampa almost caught up to the Packers in the forth quarter. It was a 40 pass from Rodgers to WR Jordy Nelson that sealed the Buc's fate.

The Packers are now 10-0 and still haven't lost a game.

More on the game here.

Box Sets, Anthologys and Other Compilations

2011-11-19T23:24:00.003-06:00

As many may be aware, Pink Floyd has released a 16 disc remastered box set containing pretty much their entire catalog. Just in time for the holidays... So is this like the forth or fifth box set they've released? At a $180 price tag, I think I'll pass this up. I already have all of the Pink Floyd albums spread across my collection on vinyl, cassette or CD. So, why should I go out and get something I already have? It's pointless! Because it's better sounding than what I have? Vinyl suits me just fine. I'll eventually get the CD's for my car in due time, but not by spending $180 bucks for repackaged materiel. I don't need it. If Pink Floyd really wants to capture my wallet's attention, maybe a Roger Waters era concert would do the trick.

Which brings me up to the purpose of this blog post....

Box sets are nice....Believe me, I've been wanting to get my hands on some of them for some time. Tom Petty's Live Anthology, Jimi Hendrix's Winterland, Stevie Ray Vaughan's SRV, Grateful Dead's So Many Roads and so many others to mention are some of them that interest me. The box sets contain live shows, outtakes and other material I simply do not have my collection. If it wasn't for the hefty price tag, I'd have them by now. However, some box sets from Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Pink Floyd I have zero interest in. I don't need to spend a hundred buck a complete remastered, repackaged studio efforts that I already have. Why are they on the market anyway? For the die hards? I honestly believe they are quite satisfied with the present copies they have. As for the casual fan, I don't think they'll spend that much on something that they are unsure of.

Which brings me to the anthology albums. These often two or three disc compilations I like. The number of studio albums from older and sometimes forgotten bands like Free, Sweet, Blue Oyster Cult, Nazareth, James Gang, Jethro Tull and others on the market are dwindling, going out of print...Some them I have never seen a copy of. For about twenty bucks, many of these anthology albums can give a casual fan an honest overview of an artist's storied career. The ones I really like dig deep into the catalogs and pull out a few of the finer deep cuts from an obscure album. I find myself listening to Bad Company's The 'Original' Bad Company Anthology. Blue Oyster Cult's Workshop of the Telescopes, Jethro Tull's Best of Jethro Tull-The Anniversary Collection and Grand Funk's Thirty Years of Funk 1969-1999 quite a bit. The only downfall in these compilations are one can argue what tracks that should be used.

Single discs compilations, however, I feel are a waste of time. For one, there are too many of them! How many from Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, Aerosmith, the Beach Boys , the Beatles or the Stones we really need? How many different compilations does "Walk This Way", "Freebird", "Good Vibrations", "Light My Fire" or "Satisfaction" need to appear on? Yeah, the hits are being cashed in to assure sales, but this is overkill....especially when there is The Door's Greatest Hits, The Best of the Doors, The Very Best of the Doors and on and on....

Another thing, the constant throwing in of a couple of newly recorded tunes in to push sales. As a collector, I don't go out of my way to buy any single compilations. By the time they come around I have whatever that is from them on the studio albums, therefore the couple of new tunes are just an annoyance to me. Sure I want the new songs to complete my collection, but I'm not going to shell out fifteen bucks for Aerosmith's The Big Ones just to get "Walk on Water" and "Blind Man". I'll tape them off of the radio or download them instead. (Unless someone gives me a copy) Just wish they save them for a new album..

Then there are the Gold, Icon and the Millennium Series. WHY? The kind of stuff that that the clueless fan would buy. The shit you buy at WalMart. They aren't even authentic releases approved by the artists themselves. Betcha they won't even see a dollar off of any copies sold. Just another reason to part with your hard earned dollar

So what kind of compilation you like? What do you recommend?

Packers Week #10

2011-11-14T22:39:00.007-06:00

The Green Bay Packers crushed the Central Division rivals Minnesota Vikings 45-7 at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

Aaron Rodgers had another spectacular game throwing 4 touchdown passes.

The Packers defense played well, effectively shutting down the Vikings.

The Packers rested Rodgers and other starters at the end of the game. Second string QB Matt Flynn runs for another touchdown.

The bright side for Minnesota was defensive player Jared Allen,whom put some pressure on Rodgers.

The Packers are now 9-0 and STILL undefeated...

More on the game here.

Black Sabbath Reunites!

2011-11-11T20:00:00.004-06:00

I just learned this from a couple of music blogs that the original lineup of Black Sabbath has reunited for an upcoming album and a tour in 2012. SWEET! After 33 years of "waiting" I finally could a chance to see this legendary lineup. Hope they come to Milwaukee...

The group's new ninth studio album will be produced by Rick Rubin, who also appeared at the press conference. The four band members are currently recording it and have not yet announced a title. "We've written about seven or eight songs .. and they're really good," Osbourne said at the press conference. "I'm not just saying that. I'm like, 'Woah!'" "Tony's come up with like, absolutely incredible music," Butler added. "It really is back to the old Sabbath style and sound."

What's ironic about this reunion of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward is where their announcement conference took place-at Los Angeles' Whisky A GoGo on 11/11/11, the place of Sabbath's first American concert, exactly 41 years beforehand! What a trip!

Packers Week #9

2011-11-06T19:14:00.004-06:00

The Green Bay Packers defeated the San Diego Chargers 45-38 in a rather impressive gave at Qualcomm Stadium at San Diego.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

The Packers' defense was impressive, picking off San Diego's Philip Rivers three times. Two of them for touchdowns.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 21 of 26 passes for 247 yards.

Though Rivers got picked off three times, he did well throwing for touchdown passes.

The Packers are STILL undefeated at 8-0

More on the game here.

Sunrise at the Lake

2011-11-05T08:31:00.003-05:00

It's not too often that I get up early on a Saturday morning...That is either I'm gone off to work or in this case-to take my girlfriend to work. Otherwise, I sleep in. This morning, I was marveling at the quiet serenity of my surroundings and the peacefulness of the cities' streets. After dropping my lady off the reddish orange glow from the east lured me to the lake... Calmness seeped into me as I ate an Egg McMuffin, while watching the waves crash into the shoreline. As the sun rose higher into the sky, turning the darkness into light, I felt happy to be alive...

Packers Week #8

2011-10-31T20:21:00.004-05:00

The Green Bay Packers had a bye this week. So...I'll take the time to make my annual Super Bowl prediction. As you recall last year I picked New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons to make it. Never one of them did. It ended up being the Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, let's see if I could do better this year...

On the AFC side of the ball, at this point, Pittsburgh leads with a 6-2 record. Buffalo and New England have a 5-2 record while Houston holds at 5-3. San Diego and Oakland tied their division at 4-3. Cincinnati and Baltimore are doing good at 5-2. So it kind of looks it's anyone's game at this point...

Kinda like seeing Pittsburgh or New England going in...

The NFC gets easier...Green Bay is undefeated at 7-0. The New York Giants led the East at 5-2. Detroit is just behind the Pack at 6-2. San Francisco leads the West with a 6-1 record. New Orleans leads their division at 5-3.

It looks as if the Packers will return to the Super Bowl...

Pumpkin Carvings

2011-10-26T21:54:00.008-05:00

I think pumpkin carvings are pieces of art. The creativity of some of these are just a marvel to me, especially when they go to an extreme. Although I done some in the past (like the one I did that said PACKERS across it), none of them quite match up to some of them found on the Internet...

Packers Week #7

2011-10-23T20:00:00.003-05:00

The Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings 33-27 at the Metrodome today.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

Aaron Rodgers threw almost a perfect game completing 24 of 30 passes for 335 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Rookie QB Christen Ponder of the Vikings made his starting debut today and was rather impressive.

Minnesota running back Adrian Petersen rushed 24 times for 175 yards.

Packer safety Charles Woodson picked off Ponder twice in the third quarter.

The Packers are now 7-0 and STILL undefeated....

More on the game here.

Riders on the Storm

2011-10-19T19:56:00.007-05:00

Today's weather was just nasty out there! 46 degrees-windy, rainy, cold-just plain miserable...Kind of day just to stay at home curled up in a blanket and watch a good movie, except the fact I was out to the library to pick up more CD's. While there, I noticed monstrous waves crashing onto the rocks on the lakefront. A perfect photo opportunity.

Packers Week #6

2011-10-16T20:47:00.002-05:00

The Green Bay Packers slayed the St. Louis Rams 24-3 today at Lambeau Field

Here are my thoughts of the game....

The throwback uniforms that Green Bay wore really really sucked.

Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns including a 93 yarder to Jordy Nelson.

The Rams didn't seem half bad considering they are 0-6.

Rams cornerback, Al Harris, was impressed by his former team, calling them the best in the league.

The Packers are now 6-0, the only undefeated team in the NFL.

More on the game here.

Evidence of Autumn

2011-10-13T20:32:00.009-05:00

Seems like Indian Summer has left us after a good week of excellent weather. The cold winds and rain finally came...stripping the colorful leaves and leaving the trees naked for all to see. Time to start planning for the winter ahead get ready for hibernation. Here are some pictures I took from around town I took before today's rain...

Petrifying Springs in Kenosha

Leaves over Pike River at Petrifying Springs

On Main Street by the Racine Zoo

By Piggly Wiggly on Erie Street

The road going into River Bend

Root River at River Bend

By the airport on Green Bay Road

Kiss vs Micheal Jackson

2011-10-10T19:13:00.002-05:00

I stumbled across this video doing some rock and roll research and found it to be quite amusing....

I confess to a bit a KISS fan and well, Micheal Jackson-well...uh...let's just say he tends to be the brunt of my jokes..

So who wins? Watch the video and find out.

Now I wonder what would happen if Madonna and Lady Gaga were to square off... Rocket firing bras?

Packers Week #5

2011-10-09T22:40:00.003-05:00

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 25-14 at the Georgia Dome today.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

Atlanta jumped out ready to attack early in the game, scoring twice.

The Packers played without their starting tackles, leaving QB Aaron Rodgers vulnerable.

The situation changed in the second half of the game. The Packers came back with 25 unanswered points.

The Packers are now 5-0 and still undefeated....

More on the game here.

Learning Isn't Hard When you Got Your Library Card...

2011-10-08T01:25:00.001-05:00

Since July, my music collection has grown like a weed overdosing on Miracle-Gro on steroids. Much that is due to repeated trips to the library to check out CD's and burning them. It may be an unconventional way of collecting, but it is cheap. Borrow ten discs, copy the covers in a printer and then burn 'em, all for the price of a package of blank discs (which is about five bucks). Cheap.

So here is list of recent additions...

Apocalytica: Worlds Collide
Bachman & Turner: (s/t)
Bad English: (s/t)
Beach Boys: Greatest Hits Volume 1:20 Good Vibrations
Beach Boys: Classics Selected by Brian Wilson
Jeff Beck: Shapes of Things
Pat Benatar: Live From Earth
Pat Benatar: Seven the Hard Way
Pat Benatar: Best of Pat Benatar Volume 1
Pat Benatar: Best of Pat Benatar Volume 2
Pat Benatar: Greatest Hits
Blackmore's Night; Autumn Sky
Black Sabbath: We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll
Blue Cheer: Vincebus Eruptum
Bon Jovi: Keep the Faith
Bon Jovi: These Days
Bon Jovi: 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't be Wrong
David Bowie: The Best of David Bowie
Jack Bruce and Robin Trower: Seven Moons
Buffalo Springfield: Retrospective
Charlie Daniels Band: A Decade of Hits
Eric Clapton: Clapton
Days of the New: (s/t 2nd album)
Death Cab for Cutie: Codes and Keys
Dokken: The Very Best of Dokken
Doobie Brothers: World Gone Crazy
Doors: Alive She Cried
Electric Light Orchestra: The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
Fleetwood Mac: Greatest Hits
Foreigner: Complete Greatest Hits
Frogwater: Live at Thai Joe's
J. Geils Band: Anthology
Golden Earring: The Continuing Story of Radar Love
Great White: Can't Get There From Here
Don Henley: Actual Miles Henley's Greatest Hits
Jayhawks: Sound of Lies
Judas Priest: The Essential Judas Priest
Kings of Leon: Only by the Night
Kings of Leon: Come Around Sundown
Kinks: The Ultimate Kinks
KISS: Asylum
KISS: Revenge
KISS: Carnival of Souls
Jonny Lang: Long Time Coming
Huey Lewis and the News: Hard at Play
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Southern by the Grace of God
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Skynyrd's Innyrds
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Lynyrd Skynyrd (Box Set)
Lynyrd Skynyrd: The Last Rebel
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Endangered Species
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Twenty
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Then and Now
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Christmas Time Again
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Thirty
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Vicious Cycle
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Gods & Guns
Taj Mahal: Best of Taj Mahal Volume 1
Matchbox 20: Yourself or Someone Like You
Marillion: Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other
Marshall Tucker Band: Running Like the Wind
Marshall Tucker Band: Beyond the Horizon
Paul and Linda McCartney: Ram
John Mayall: The Turning Point
Steve Miller Band: Bingo!
Moody Blues: A Night at Red Rocks
Mott the Hoople: All the Young Dudes
Muse: Showbiz
Muse: Absolution
Muse: Black Holes and Revelations
Nickelback: Dark Horse
North Missisippi AllStars: Keys to the Kingdom
Ted Nugent: Super Hits
Queensryche: Greatest Hits
Quicksilver Messenger Service: Classic Masters
Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested
Ratt: Infestation
Rolling Stones: Rock and Roll Circus
Santana: Shaman
Joe Satriani: The Extremist
Joe Satriani: Cyrstal Planet
Scorpions: Sting of the Tail
Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band: It's a Mystery
Bob Segar: Face the Promise
Paul Simon: The Rhythm of the Saints
Bruce Springsteen: We Shall Overcome
Bruce Springsteen: 18 Tracks
Tears for Fears: The Hurting
UFO: Obsession
U2: 18 Singles
Widespread Panic: Free Somehow
XTC: Skylarking
Yardbirds: Rodger & the Engineer
Yes: Fly From Here
Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Reactor

I know that there are a quite a bit of compilations on this list. The library seems to have a lot of them. I don't normally go after them, because by the time they come around, I've got everything on them-that is on vinyl or on cassette. It's nice to have a CD to stick into my car and go.

And the Skynyrd explosion...Good story here. My girlfriend's son saw Lynyrd Skynryd at Rock USA up in Oshkosh last summer and thought they were excellent! She came up with an idea to gather up all the Skynyrd albums for his birthday. So why not? All I had was the entire Ronnie Van Zant stuff and a smattering of the post plane crash materiel...

Milwaukee Brewers win NLCS series

2011-10-07T22:09:00.003-05:00

I'm not a big fan of watching baseball, yet hearing about the Brewers have been a treat this year. I just learned that the Brewers just beat out the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in the series winning the National League Championship Series. They'll go on to challenge the St.Louis Cardinals to determine whom would play in the World Series.

Packers Week #4

2011-10-02T21:36:00.003-05:00

The Denver Broncos got spanked by the Green Bay Packers 49-23 at Lambeau Field this afternoon.

Here are my thoughts of the game...

The Packers pretty much dominated the game.

Besides one tipped pass that got intercepted, Aaron Rodgers was picture perfect today.

Over 400 yards in passing, four thrown TD passes and 2 ran in... Aaron Rodgers was on fire!

If the Broncos had played against someone else, I think they could have won. They are not to shabby of a team...

Broncos QB, Kyle Orten got picked off twice.

The Packers are now 4-0. Along with the surprising Detroit Lions, they remain undefeated....

More on the game here

2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

2011-09-28T17:10:00.008-05:00

Just the other day the Rock and Roll of Hall of Fame announced their nominees for their 2012 class. Not a bad selection, but it can be better.....

The nominees are..

Beastie Boys-No, I don't think so...if there were a Hip Hop Hall of Fame elsewhere, by all means go for it...

The Cure-Not a fan of these guys, I guess I can see the gothic new wave influences. It it really enough for these guys the make it in?

Donovan-I recently picked an album, Barajabal, from him and I thought it was pretty good. I can see the folkish influences.

Eric B.and Rakim- Never heard of them.

Guns n' Roses-Most definitely! Appetite for Destruction is a classic... Guns n' Roses brought back the raunchy bad boy image of Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones and blended it with heavy metal with a middle finger to the world.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- Hmmmm. I think the Runaways would be a better idea for R&RHoF.

Heart-Definitely! Forging the way for women in hard rock without sounding like crap.

Freddy King-Any blues great guitar player has my nod for the Hall of Fame.

Laura Nyro-Heard of her by name only, so therefore, I don't have an opinion on her.

Red Hot Chili Peppers-OK...I'm not a big fan of these guys either. I'll admit they are a bit different than many bands out there. Something tells me they'll make it in weather they deserve if or not.

Rufus and Chaka Khan-Is there a Disco Hall of Fame anywhere?

The Small Faces/Faces-Personally I think A Nod is Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse is a classic album. The Faces are largely responsible for bringing straight forward raunchy bar blues rock to the table.

The Spinners-Motown sound from the 60's and 70's. Very respectable...

Donna Summer-Now where was the Disco Hall of Fame?

War-OK, "Low Rider" was a hit for them and Eric Burden from the Animals was their singer. Do they have what it takes to make it in?

My picks would be Guns n'Roses, Heart, Donovan, Freddie King, The Small Faces/Faces

Packers Week #3

2011-09-25T19:20:00.002-05:00

My beloved Green Bay Packers won against conference rivals 27-17 at Soldier Field today.

Here are my thoughts of the game.

1) The Packers seemed to dominate the the first quarter by holding them down to one first down.

2) The Bears started to come alive in the second quarter.

3) There a lot of dropped passes from the Chicago receivers.

4) By the forth quarter things were getting ugly, turnovers by both teams. Chicago looked as if were ready to catch up.

5) The Packers are 3-0 now.

More on the game here.

How Does the Cheese Eat a Bear?

2011-09-23T20:20:00.005-05:00

How does the cheese eat a Bear? Yep, you read the title right. This is an actual conversation by my Chicago Bear loving girlfriend and me.

HER: Babe, I know that you are a Packer fan and all, but I want to know a cheese can eat a bear.
ME: Well, do you know what packers are? They work in meat..(I was trying to explain the history of the Packer name when she interrupted me)
HER: I know all that! If a bear can eat cheese, what I want to know is if CHEESE can eat bear.
ME: Yes...
HER: OK, how?
ME: Simple-Voodoo magic.
HER: Voodoo?
ME: Yeah-some guy with a wand in one hand and a chicken in the other hand ZAPS a gourd of cheese. This gourd of cheese grows bigger and bigger-chases down the bear like a PAC-man and CHOMPS down on the bear and eats him. And that Sweetie, is how the cheese ate the bear!
HER: So who's the guy with the magic wand?
ME: Harry Potter.
HER: That explains everything...

REM 'Calls It a Day"

2011-09-22T15:46:00.003-05:00

Alternative rockers from Athens, Georgia, REM has decided to call it quits according to a statement released by the band's website. This is the statement....

"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening." R.E.M.

In a statement by bassist Mike Mills: "We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love and respect each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this -- there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each other's best interests at heart."

My hat's off the band and I wish them luck in whatever they do....

Packers Week #2

2011-09-18T18:10:00.002-05:00

The Packers won 30-23 over the Carolina Panthers at the Back of America Stadium in Charlotte bringing the Pack 2-0

Here are my thoughts of the game...

The Packers were non existent in the first quarter with only one possession.

Carolina actually looked good in the first half.

The Packers roared back to life in the second half dominating the Panthers.

Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton certainly has potential to a great quarterback.

Carolina turned the ball over four times during the game.

More on the game here.

The Sky is Crying

2011-09-14T17:00:00.020-05:00

There are many music lovers out there at that would claim Jimi Hendrix as THE guitar god. That may be case, yet blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan sits on his right hand as a faithful disciple of Hendrix. Hendrix may have opened the door for generations of guitar players exploring the boundaries of the instrument, yet Stevie Ray sent it the the limitless heights of the stratosphere.

Note for note, each sound Stevie Ray creates on his beat up Stratocaster is worth it weight in gold. Always playing with unbridled passion and emotion, Stevie Ray somehow reaches into the heart and soul of the listener-whether it is playing at blinding speed or the slow down steady blues. Not bad at all from guy who sneaked into his older brother's room just to self teach himself on the guitar.

On the 1991 release of The Sky is Crying illustrates all that and more. The posthumously assembled ten-track outtakes collection actually proves to be one of Stevie Ray's most consistent albums, rivaling to 1989's In Step as the best. Compiled by his older brother, Jimmie Vaughan (of the Fabulous Thunderbirds), these songs were recorded in sessions spanning from 1984's Couldn't Stand the Weather to his last album, In Step and were left off of the albums for whatever reason (or, in the case of Soul to Soul's "Empty Arms," a different version was used).

What makes the record work is its eclectic diversity --Vaughan plays the slide guitar on "Boot Hill" while "Life by the Drop" was done on the acoustic. He smokes on the slow blues of "May I Have a Talk With You" and the title track just as much as on the up-tempo Lonnie Mack cover, "Wham" Holy Cow! Talk about blistering guitar work there! Then he shows the jazzy side of his playing on and Kenny Burrell's "Chitlins Con Carne. The buzz on the amp on Hendrix's "Little Wing" intro slowly crawls in a wailing guitar solo that is literally mind blowing!

But it's not just musical diversity that makes the record work, it's also Vaughan's emotional range. From the morbidly dark "Boot Hill" to the lilting "Little Wing" to the exuberant tributes to his influences -- Lonnie Mack on "Wham" and Albert King on "The Sky Is Crying". Stevie Ray makes the material resonate, and in light of his death, "The Sky Is Crying" and the touching survivor-story ballad "Life by the Drop" are two of the most moving moments in Stevie Ray Vaughan's oeuvre.

Never Forget....

2011-09-11T14:52:00.002-05:00

I was at work when this all happened.....

Somebody at work had called in sick, so had to work on another press than I normally do. The day itself seemed to peaceful and calm. Nothing would prepare me for what was to come.

I was in the scheduling office picking up paperwork shortly after the first plane hit. The radio in the office been blaring news. My first impression was an aircraft controller had somehow had messed up and directed the plane at lower altitude causing the crash. Never in my mind was this an attack of terrorism until I was getting ready to walk out of the office when the second plane hit.

I remember the feeling of dread afterwards. News and rumors spread like wildfire across the plant. We had limited access to the outside world. By lunchtime television sets were set up in the conference room across the hall from the break room. These were the first images of terror at the World Trade Center I saw. I was horrified...

I remember the fear growing inside of me as the day went on. Little did I know what was really going outside the concrete walls of the building I was working in. Was a there a full scale war going on? Will I be gunned down as I walk out of the building? Maybe my imagination was running wild with me...

It wasn't until I got home I that realized the full scale of what happened. The repeated images on the TV told me everything. By then, the Pentagon had been hit. Flight 93 had crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. The towers had collapsed-killing thousands of civilians, firefighters and police alike. I was mortified...

Packers Week #1

2011-09-08T22:40:00.003-05:00

My beloved team-the defending Super Bowl champs Green Bay Packers defeated the New Orleans Saints in this explosive season opener 42-34 at Lambeau Field. What a game! The Pack looked to have the game wrapped up in the first quarter before the Saints came alive with Drew Brees' quickfire passes.

Here are my thoughts of the game:

1) The Packers are clearly still a HOT team! Aaron Rodgers passes are like lightning!

2) Make no doubt, New Orleans is a GREAT team. The do have a lot of weapons in their arsenal.

3) Packer seemed to have a running game going (finally) with two good running backs at their disposal.

4) Special teams on both sides of the field have stepped up. Their were two kick off returns in the game.

5) Neither quarterbacks made an interception.

All in all it was an awesome game, a great way to start the season!

More on the game here.

Didn't Go...

2011-09-05T21:00:00.004-05:00

Last night, I was supposed to go see the Doobie Brothers at the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn. Well, didn't go. My girlfriend and I were called away to Shawano Saturday afternoon to witness the birth of her first grandchild. We didn't get home until Sunday evening about 45 minutes prior to the show. With the weather being drizzling, cold and icky and the possibility of getting caught in the traffic situations dealing with Pearl Jam's show at nearby Alpine Valley were deciding factors in not going. Would of been nice though. The Doobie Brothers latest album, World Gone Crazy is their best piece of work since their 70's heyday of Takin' it to the Streets and Minute by Minute. Their recent setlists included classic tunes like "Black Water", "China Groove", "Listen to the Music" and "Rockin' Down the Highway" as well tunes from their recent album.

I've must of been in a dark closet during the last couple of months. About four days ago, I just learned that one of my favorite bands, Pearl Jam was kicking off a leg of their PJ20 Tour at nearby Alpine Valley last night and the night before. This is one band I've always wanted to see live! Their energetic shows and ever changing setlists are the some the reasons I want to go. To make these shows more for worth craving for were the appearances of Chris Cornell from Soundgarden, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age along with members of Mudhoney and the Strokes. Just to hear Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder jam together doing Temple of the Dog classics would definitely have been a treat! Top top it all...$50 lawn seats!

Was it worth it not going? Yes! My girlfriend's first grandchild was born 1:35 Sunday morning. A girl. 7 pounds 4 ounces. A real cutie pie....

Hair of the Dog

2011-09-01T20:33:00.008-05:00

Nazareth. Yes, Nazareth. Remember that long forgotten name that was buried under the weight of the popular 70's riff crunching powerhouse bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Black Sabbath? I do. It seems like a vague memory for some. It's kind of easy to see why...These Scottish rockers never stood out above the crowd, instead they blended into the rock and roll scenery like a chameleon on a branch. It wasn't just they sucked. They might not have quite the talent like Zeppelin, nor the flamboyancy like Queen and Aerosmith, yet they certainly had some moments of glory. Among them was their sixth studio effort, Hair of the Dog, released in 1975.

Hair of the Dog was the first album I ever picked from Nazareth. As a young teenager, I got excited of hearing the boisterous title track, marveling at the uncensored chorus of "Now you're messing with a son of a bitch, Now you're messing with a son of a bitch" over the loud relentless guitars combined with a smoking bass solo on the radio. Then there was the beautiful Everly Brothers cover of "Love Hurts". Singer Dan McCafferty's trance like singing of this wholesome ballad was repeatedly requested on the radio by love struck girls requesting it for their boyfriends to the point that I wanted to beat my head against the wall like a schizophrenic having delusions. Nevertheless, it is a great tune taken in moderation.

The rest of the album should not be ignored, for it divides its time between similarly pulverizing hard rock fare and some intriguing experiments with the group's sound. Notable tracks include "Miss Misery," a bad romance lament driven by a doomy riff worthy of Black Sabbath and my personal favorite, "Changin' Times", a throbbing hard rock tune driven by a hypnotic, circular-sounding guitar riff ending with a monstrous solo by Manny Charlton. A big big highlight is "Please Don't Judas Me," an epic tune about paranoia that trades heavy metal riffs for a spooky, synthesizer-dominated atmosphere that is further enhanced by some light, Pink Floyd -styled slide guitar work.

Some may argue to what is the best Nazareth album. Razamanaz, Expect No Mercy and No Mean City are all fine albums, but Hair of the Dog remains the most popular. It has sold two million copies worldwide. To top it all, it is a necessity for Nazareth fans and anyone who loves 1970s hard rock.

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-29T17:04:00.005-05:00

Over the weekend Hurricane Irene sliced up the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to New England leaving a death toll now at 37 and a trail of destruction in its wake. As of this point, millions are still without power and the rebuilding begins.

Once a storm to be feared to a degree catastrophic proportions, Irene roared out of the Bahamas a Category 3 hurricane packing winds of over 110 MPH. Residents of the Atlantic coast had every right to be afraid, especially to those whom live in New York City and other large metropolitan areas. In which, of New York haven't had a major hurricane in God knows how long.

A Katrina like catastrophe, Irene wasn't, reduced to a Category 1 be the time it made landfall on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. By the time made it's third American landfall at Coney Island, New York, Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm. A huge sigh of relief and good news for most everybody. Still, it was a storm to be reckoned with-left a huge mess for everyone to clean up.

Enough with the news...I'm sure everyone heard all the details about Irene. Storms always captivated my interest, especially hurricanes and tornadoes. It's a wonder that Mother Nature, who's beauty and splendor can be so destructive and terrifying....Now, I wonder how Seano from the Circle of Fits is doing. He's from Philadelphia...

What to Write About?

2011-08-22T17:11:00.002-05:00

I know that I haven't posting much on here lately and some of you may have been wondering what happened. I'm fine. I've been busy with work and so has my girlfriend. Time seems to be a luxury these days. I try to prioritize my time off from work and other important errands by spending it with my girlfriend and kids. Some days are not so easy....

There are times like this I'll got a moment to myself to write a blog. So here I am, filled with ideas to what to write about, yet I'm drawing a blank.... Typing away here very slowly, one finger at a time (I'm no speed demon on the keyboard, that's for sure) thinking I've got recent albums from the Doobie Brothers, Yes and Lynyrd Skynyrd that I could do reviews on. Not to mention stacks of burned CD's that been piling up my desk here, I could easily do. I could scan some old photos of vacation trips I took as a kid and write about it. Some old pet photos too, why not? Of course, I could do something personal, yet I've been leery about doing that lately.

It's summer though and I love the sunshine. I do want to enjoy it while I can. Read a book outside with my tunes and then cook on the grill. Take a walk through the woods with my lady and my dog. Can't really do that in the winter...

Not to worry, I'm still around, reading your blogs and commenting on them. Wouldn't miss them for the world....

We are Stardust, We are Golden

2011-08-12T22:14:00.016-05:00

In 1969, a monumental music festival changed our world. More than half a million people came together - united in a message of peace, openness and cultural expression – and demonstrated how a generation could be heard. Today, Woodstock lives on. Gathered on Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, New York, they came from all over....changing forever the face of rock and roll-encrypting our minds with images of love and peace....

Woodstock originally was designed as a profit-making venture. It famously became a "free concert" only after it became obvious that the event was drawing hundreds of thousands more people than the organizers had prepared for. Tickets for the event cost $18 in advance and $24 at the gate for all three days. But a late change in venue did not give the festival organizers enough time to prepare. Organizers felt they had two choices. One option was to improve the fencing and security which might have resulted in violence; the other involved putting all their resources into completing the stage, which would cause promoters to take a financial hit. The crowd, which was arriving in greater numbers and earlier than anticipated, made the decision for them. The fence was cut the night before the concert.

During the sometimes rainy weekend, thirty-two acts performed outdoors. Among them were sensational bands like Santana, the Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, the Who, Jefferson Airplane, Ten Years After, the Band, CSN&Y and Jimi Hendrix. I know, that's a lot of acts!

The influx of attendees to the rural concert site in Bethel created a massive traffic jam. To add to the problems and difficulty in dealing with the large crowds, recent rains had caused muddy roads and fields. The facilities were not equipped to provide sanitation or first aid for the number of people attending; hundreds of thousands found themselves in a struggle against bad weather, food shortages, and poor sanitation.

The festival was remarkably peaceful given the number of people and the conditions involved, the audience, in tune with the idealistic hopes of the 1960s, Woodstock satisfied most attendees. There was a sense of social harmony, which, with the quality of music, and the overwhelming mass of people, many sporting Bohemian dress, behavior, and attitudes helped to make it one of the enduring events of the century.

It is widely regarded as one of the most pivotal moments in rock and roll's music history...I have often wondered what it would be like to have experienced this.

25 years later gave birth to a new generation to the those attended the first. Organizers had come with plans for a second Woodstock to commemorate the anniversary of the original. Of course by then, the times had changed and the music had evolved. Skepticism arose as plans unraveled. Would the memory of the original be tarnished?

Woodstock '94 was settled in a large field in Saugarties, NY, about ten miles away from the original site and it was originally proposed as the location for the 1969 concert for permission to use the property was not granted. Tickets were sold for $135 to try to limit attendance to 250,000 people. Kind of steep price, yet considering the Eagles were charging the same amount for their shows, to see 67 acts in three days seemed fair. An eight foot high fence was erected around the venue to thwart gate crashers.

Instead of driving cross country and paying the big bucks to see this historical event, it was decided that staying at home and spending $50 to watch it on pay per view was a better idea. After all, it was my Woodstock...and I got a free T-shirt out of the deal. So I took the liberty of video and audio taping the ENTIRE concert...

67 acts and a wide diverse amount music covering two stages was presented to the hordes of music fans that came in from all points of the globe. Some new acts as well as the older ones. Among them were Collective Soul, Blues Traveler, Blind Melon, Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, Aerosmith, Allman Brothers Band, Green Day, Bob Dylan, Traffic, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Peter Gabriel. Returning from 1969 were Santana, Joe Cocker, Country Joe, CSN and the Band. There was no way I could miss this...

As I was watching this spectacle, I couldn't help to notice how surreal and crazy it was. It was a combination of generations-young and old-in the crowds and in the mosh pits. Body surfing, beach balls and naked people. An experience that felt a reminiscent to the original Woodstock with a modern twist. Rains came down during Saturday afternoon turning the place into "Mudstock". Out came the "Mudpeople" turning hills into mudslides-all caked with mud. By the time Aerosmith hit the stage late Saturday night with a mind blowing show, the crowd had swelled to an approximate 450,000 people. The gates had been taken down, lest people getting injured breaking in. At that point it became a free concert....

By the time I shut down my VCR and stereo, moments after the Sunday night Peter Gabriel finished his set, I was exhausted. Yet I smiled when I went to bed knowing a peaceful show worthy of the Woodstock name would bring up memories of a lifetime for me....

Five years later, as promoters wanted, came another Woodstock. Given the circumstances of the previous peaceful Woodstocks back in '69 and '94, it didn't seem to be a bad idea at first. A Woodstock every five years? The first one was a sacrilege while the second one was a peaceful commemorative, the third one was overkill.

Organizers picked the abandoned Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY, which was about 200 miles away from the original site, to solve the problems dealing with the mud that plagued the previous shows. Tickets were sold for $150 a piece, which were considered expensive that time period standards. Prior to the concert, the promoters of the event were determined to avoid the gate-crashing that had occurred at previous festivals, and had characterized the site as "defensible", describing the 12-foot plywood and steel fence intended to keep out those without tickets. About 500 New York State Troopers were hired for security. Woodstock 99 was conceived and executed as a commercial venture with dozens of corporate sponsors, and included the presence of vendor "malls" and modern acoutrements such as ATM's and e-mail stations.

Over 100 acts came to this event! Among them were Insane Clown Pose, Buckcherry, Korn, Bush, Kid Rock, Counting Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine, Muse, Godsmack, Jewel, Willie Nelson, Creed and Megadeth, Returning from '94 were Collective Soul, Metallica and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. No one from the '69 show made an appearance...

Sounds if the promoters finally got it all together....WRONG! Very wrong...

But what went wrong? Crass commercialism for starters. Participants who had not brought sufficient food or water to the show had to either buy from onsite vendors, whose merchandise was expensive: a single-serving pizza sold for $12, bottles of water and soda went for five bucks a pop. The oppressive heat —which reached above 100 F-baking concert goers on the asphalt certainly didn't help matters. One by one, the testosterone driven metal bands pushed the crowds into a frenzy. Some crowd violence and looting was reported during the Saturday night performance by Limp Bizkit, including a rendition of the song "Break Stuff". Violence escalated the next night during the final hours of the concert as the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed. During the band's set, the crowd began to light candles, some also using them to start bonfires. The hundreds of empty plastic water bottles that littered the lawn/dance area were used as fuel for the fire. Many large bonfires were burning high before the band left the stage for the last time. Participants danced in circles around the fires. Looking for more fuel, some tore off panels of plywood from the supposedly inviolable security perimeter fence. ATMs were tipped over and broken into, trailers full of merchandise and equipment were forced open and burglarized, and abandoned vendor booths were turned over, and set afire.

Police investigated four alleged instances of rape that occurred during the concert. Eyewitnesses reported a body-surfing woman being pulled down into the crowd and gang-raped in the moshpit during Limp Bizkit's set. Seven arrests were made on the final night of the concert and, afterward, police reviewed video footage, hoping to identify and hold accountable rapists and looters who, amid the chaos, had not been arrested. Approximately 12 trailers, a small bus and a number of booths and portable toilets were burned in the fray. Six people were injured.

I was so glad that I turned down the $50 per per view for this show. The only act that I was even interested in at the time was Metallica. It deeply saddened me, to know that the great sacrilege of Woodstock was tarnished by a bunch of assholes....

Vicious Cycle

2011-08-09T20:15:00.004-05:00

I know that I haven't done an album review in awhile and it's long overdue that I do one. Anyways, it doesn't mean that I haven't been listening to music lately, in fact I have. Too much of it... My girlfriend and I have been plundering and pillaging the local libraries for CD's to burn. One of these we got is Lynyrd Skynyrd's tenth studio album, Vicious Cycle.

I've always been a huge fan of Southern rock, it almost seems to run in my blood even though I never been south of the Mason/Dixie line. Somehow I can relate to whiskey swigging, hell raising lifestyle even though I'm a family man with a remote in hand. Mostly I think it is my love for the blues.

On Vicious Cycle, Lynyrd Skynyd delivers that same whiskey drinking and hell raising fun that I like. There are some killer bone crunching guitars, tickling piano and insightful lyrics, a perfect combination for a Skynyrd classic. But first, a little history lesson....

Since Lynyrd Skynyrd's reunion in 1987, the band has going through a perpetual lineup change. Gary Rossington, the only original guitarist left from the days of "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama" leads the pack the triple guitar assault with a resounding force. The addition of ace guitar players Hughie Thomasson from the Outlaws and Ricky Metlocke from Blackfoot make this a spicy Cajan combination to behold. Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother, Johnny, who's insightful and colorful lyrics paints a vivid picture of the rebel raising south-in the all American way as seen tunes like "Red, White and Blue" and "That's How I Like It"

But what's missing here? It's hard not to compare this album (and others) to the classics of the pre-plane crash Skynyrd. This is really no challenge here. Though they try....Johnny tries his damnedest to follow the footsteps of his older brother, lacks the emotion and depth. Billy Powell's legendary spidery piano work, slowly is being overcome with an organ. Ean Evans, whom takes over the bass, clearly isn't the same caliber as the late Leon Wilkeson (he passed away during the sessions). Micheal Cartellone, the drummer from the Damn Yankees, does his best to fill in for the departed Artimus Pyle.

What's with Kid Rock doing with a remake of "Gimme Back My Bullets" ? THAT I cringed over hearing...

Maybe I'm wrong to compare oranges from peaches. This is a good album, no doubt. Second Helping and their debut are classics that stand the test time. If this were a brand new band, I may have another viewpoint. In the meantime, I'll tip my beer in favor of the band trying to keep the spirit of Ronnie Van Zant and Lynyrd Skynyrd alive....

Cookin'on the Grill!

2011-08-03T21:01:00.006-05:00

O yeah, it's that time of the year again! One of my favorite summer activities, cooking on the grill. Weather it's chicken, burgers, steak, ribs, brats or hot dogs. "You kill it, I grill it" is my motto when I have the tongs in one hand and a beer in other.

This year I downsized my big assed gas grill in favor of a small charcoal grill that I had stashed for years. I know that gas grills faster to cook on and cheaper in the long run, I prefer the taste of the charcoal flavoring over the propane taste. On top of that, it gives me an opportunity to pull out my boom box to listen to some killer CD's and ENJOY a couple of cold brews while the flames are roasting the meat.

One of my favorite recipes is honey and spice chicken wings. It's rather easy to cook...

Ingredients:

1/2 c Heinz 57 sauce
1/4 c honey
2 lbs chicken wings

What I do is boil the chicken till fully cooked. While that is going, I'll combine the Heinz 57 sauce and the honey in a large freezer bag. Once the chicken is done, I'll put the chicken of the freezer bag with the sauce to marinate overnight. Sounds easy, eh? What's your favorite grilling recipe?

Some Crappy Albums

2011-07-28T18:55:00.007-05:00

It's not too often I give out reviews for the disastrous albums out there. Being open minded, I tend to like a lot of the stuff out there and even tolerate some (except for rap and disco, which I think are dredge of the earth) Every now and then I come across a shitty album in my collection that I wished I never heard. Here are a few...(in random order)

Diamanda Galas with John Paul Jones The Sporting Life-1994 Being a die hard Zeppelin fan, I find it hard not to pass up anything Zep related, this one however, is one of that I should have. Galas pitifully hisses, whines, chants, howls and screams like Yoko Ono in heat. Can not comprehend a word to what she is allegedly singing. What amazes me the most here is that John Paul Jones, whom has a good ear for talent, is even working with her.

Impellitteri Stand in Line-1988 On the back cover of the album was inscribed with the words of guitarist Chris Impellitteri, "I promise that my guitar solos will only get faster". Ok, I'll bite. Like a fish caught on a hook reeled into a frying pan-not good. Impellitteri's guitar playing is as fast as a Porsche stuck in the mud. Tires spinning, but going nowhere. Like Yngwie Malsteam, he's all technique with no soul nor emotion. Even with ex-Rainbow singer Graham Bonnet on hand for the vocals couldn't save this album.

Kingdom Come In Your Face-1989 Or should I say Kingdom Clone? The success of Whitesnake's 1987 self titled release brought out an avalanche of Zeppelin sound alike bands hoping for their 15 minutes of fame. We had Bonham, Great White and others, each trying to reduplicate the sound of Zeppelin, but just couldn't "get it right". It takes more than amps cranked up to 11 and a Plant sound alike to recreate the Zep sound. This one however, takes the cake. Nothing exciting nor memorable here, just a listless rehash of another Zep clone.

Emerson Lake & Palmer Love Beach-1978 A record that ELP released only because they owed it to their original label. Love Beach isn't simply bad, it's downright stale and pathetic. It's about creative as washing dishes. I bought this at a rummage sale for 50 cents, I'm still waiting for a refund....

Foreigner Agent Provocateur-1984 With each album coming out from Foreigner, they seemed to grow lamer and lamer, trying cash in on the ballads. Yeah, "I Want to Know What Love Is" became a HUGE hit for the band, yet it bored me after awhile. The rockin' moments became fewer and further between. "That Was Yesterday" was the best track of the album, the rest is filler.

Just a few for now. More bashes to come soon as I dig through my collection. So what's your worst album?

JTI Summer Gathering of 2011

2011-07-24T21:54:00.004-05:00

For the third year in the row, the wonderful group of friends known as the JT Irregulars got together for our annual summer gathering. A great time was held by all...

A good turnout with great people. Seated under a canopy at a local restaurant by the waters of Root River, OrbsCorbs, kkdither, lizardmom, SER, Tender Heart Bear, froglover, fungi and his wife, newcomer jedwis and myself was there. Not to forget Hale-Bopp from Tuscon, Arizona and Why Not? and her family from all away from Sweden came to join the festivities.

What a great we had! Talked for hours and had a few drinks. Hale-Bopp entertained with his stories from his travels. OrbsCorbs provided his detailed exploits from city hall. Tender Heart shared her stories from her childhood in Chicago. fungi explained the ramifications of the concealed carry law that goes into effect on November 1st. Why Not? brought her two adorable little girls. Me? Being a quiet one enjoyed hearing all of these stories.

Honestly, this is how it really went :P

Irregular we may seem, I'm looking forward to our next get together. These guys are like family to me....

Saturday Night Videos

2011-07-23T22:33:00.011-05:00

Experimentation is a part of rock and roll. The need to experiment, to create and the stretch the boundaries is essential. The overgrowing technology has certainly helped to the cause, without it rock and roll wouldn't be the same as it is today....

Inspired by the Beatles' 1965 release, Rubber Soul, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys wanted to create the "greatest record ever". The result was Pet Sounds (1966), where Wilson's growing mastery of studio recording and his increasingly sophisticated songs and complex arrangements would reach a creative peak. Influenced by psychedelic drugs, Brian Wilson turned his attention inward and probe his deep-seated self-doubts and emotional longings. The album's meticulously layered harmonies and inventive instrumentation set a new standard for pop and rock music. Wilson was a pioneer of the 'studio as instrument' concept, exploiting novel combinations of sounds that sprang from the use of multiple electric instruments and voices in an ensemble and combining them with echo and reverberation. He often doubled bass, guitar and keyboard parts, blending them with reverberation and adding other unusual instruments. It remains one of the most evocative releases of the decade.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the most important rock and roll album ever made, an unsurpassed adventure in concept, sound, songwriting, cover art and studio technology by the one of greatest rock & roll groups of all time. This album is also rock's ultimate declaration of change. For the Beatles, it was a decisive goodbye to matching suits, world tours and assembly-line record-making. Producer George Martin's innovative and lavish production included the orchestra usage and hired musicians ordered by the band. Genres such as music hall, jazz, rock and roll, western classical, and traditional Indian music are covered. Several then-new production effects feature extensively on the recordings. The use of multi-tracking , a new idea back then, is prevalent throughout the album...

Beginning with the sound of a heartbeat, Pink Floyd "Breathes" air into their 1973 release of the legendary The Dark Side of the Moon. Recorded in the famous Abbey Roads Studios between May 1972 and January 1973, the band were assigned staff engineer Alan Parsons (you know who he is) to oversee the recording of the Dark Side of the Moon. The recording sessions made use of some of the most advanced studio techniques of the time; the studio was capable of 16 track mixes, which offered a greater degree of flexibility than the eight- or four-track mixes they had previously used, although the band often used so many tracks that to make more space available second-generation copies were made. The sound effects on "Money" were created by splicing together Waters' recordings of clinking coins, tearing paper, a ringing cash register, and a clicking adding machine, which were used to create a 7-beats effects loop. An that's the tip of the iceberg...

Hot Enough?

2011-07-21T19:05:00.002-05:00

105 degrees outside said the auto dashboard as I drove off from work today. With the wind in my hair and Tom Petty blasting on on the radio, it felt so great to get away the sauna of the workshop I was in... Temperatures and humidity levels have risen to excessive heights in the last few days. Not that I minded the heat, it doesn't really bother me that much, it's the humidity... Working up a sweat feeding presses and fighting off dehydration by slamming Gatorade by the gallon can a bit of a chore. Being asthmatic doesn't help....

Saturday Night Videos

2011-07-16T22:19:00.003-05:00

Until recently, I never really was a big fan of AC/DC. Quite seemingly, in the last couple of years I've finally accepted AC/DC's classic rock status and even embraced them a little bit. Since then, I've picked up a couple of CD's from them in hopes to compile a best of collection from them. One of them, their third release High Voltage, offers up a plate of primal sleaze. The opening track "It's a Long Way to the Top (if You Wanna Rock n Roll)", really got me rockin'! I remembered hearing it for the first time in the Jack Black's movie School of Rock and became intrigued. Even more intriguing was the bagpipe solo on the tune. That's something you don't hear in rock and roll too often...

As I was digging through my collection looking for some lost classics that I haven't heard in awhile, I stumbled across Judas Priest's forth album, Stained Class. Released in 1978, before the days of the headbanging leather, Stained Class offers up streamlined, melodic metal reaching often new heights of power, speed, musicality, and malevolence. Never in your face like their more famous later day hits, Stained Class is focused with knife like precision. The songs pack an enormous visceral impact, jacked up to punk-level speed-leaving listeners with an all-out adrenaline rush.

Then there is the David Bowie led Tin Machine, a forgotten band from the '80's. Though Bowie is the lead singer, Tin Machine is a band with a band attitude. Their music is hard-edged guitar rock with an intelligence missing from much of the work of that genre at the time. Stunt guitarist Reeves Gabrels provides much in the way of ambient guitar solos. The album is a nice piece of artistry...

Guilty!

2011-07-11T15:12:00.003-05:00

Somehow, I knew it would come to this...I just didn't want to believe it.

4:30 AM on a Saturday morning, I was woken up from a deep slumber by my dog barking at my back door. Who would be knocking at my back door at this such an hour? It was my ex-wife with my son. Christopher had been arrested-for raping a two year old. My heart just sank to a bottomless pit.

That was last year, February 20, 2010.

The story begins with a phone call after my son got home from school. His best friend, Christopher, wanted a sleepover at my place that night. These guys had numerous sleepovers ever since the wee days of their childhood. Like two peas in a pod, they seemed like a bond in brotherliness. Anyways, I agreed to pick up Christopher at our meet up place in Milwaukee. There, my son, "my daughter and "my granddaughter" met up with Christopher and his mother. Everyone was in good spirits. Nobody had a clue what darkness lurked around the corner.

At the time, I was going through issues of my own and I wasn't up for much company so it was decided that they would spend the night at my ex-wife's place. After all, the drama had died down over there and we all felt it was safe enough for the boys' sleepover. How wrong we were...

By accounts, this is what is told to me....

My son and Christopher were playing video games in my son's bedroom when Christopher needed a controller from his backpack from the other room where my "daughter" and my "granddaughter" slept. For some reason inexcusable, Christopher had slipped my "granddaughter" away from my "daughter" and began his assault. My "daughter" had woken up to find Christopher on top of her with both their pants down. As what a concerned mother would do. she fought off Christopher with a plastic sword and then chased him out of the apartment with a knife, having my then 12 year son witnessing all this.

Maybe I was in denial. I've known Christopher since the day he was born. His mother and I were close friends since high school. My ex-wife babysat him on a constant basis while his mother worked. He was like a "son" to me-a part of the family. On the other foot, after my divorce my ex-wife and my "daughter" were known drama queens, hanging around with the wrong people. Drugs. I had my suspicions about them two. Things didn't seem right. Could it be they were looking for attention or for money? As much as I wanted to believe what happened, I just wanted the truth.

It tore me apart. The family along with it. I was in the middle of the madness, pulled apart like a game of tug-o-war. My relationship with my "daughter" was severed. Later on, Christopher's mother and I stopped talking. The case got ugly, really ugly. Even though the case made the news, I keep quiet about it, save for a few people I can trust.

By November, the DNA results can back. Indeed Christopher's DNA was found on the little girl's underwear. Sounds like an open and shut case, think again! Not only Christopher's DNA was found, TWO OTHER DNA WAS FOUND! My mouth just dropped to the floor! For some ungodly reason unknown, the persecution decided NOT to pursue the other DNA. That totally outraged me!!!! Was it a lack of evidence? A cover up? An easy way out? I'll never know the answer to this. All I know that this was a load of crap...As I later learned, the other two DNA were on the underwear (perhaps from folding clothes) while Christopher's DNA was found inside of the little girl.

From November to February 2011, the case kept getting delayed time and time again due to the defense persistently trying to find doctors that will evaluate Christopher insane. The more and more delays came and went, the more I felt Christopher was guilty.

Around this time, my relations between my "daughter" and I began to improve. Big thanks to my girlfriend. Then again as the case was moving along, my "daughter" freed herself away from the clutches of my ex-wife's drama and settled into a place of her own with her daughter's father. My daughter seems to prosper and do much better now in the drama free lifestyle than she did with my ex.

The delays in the case soon took it's toll. The defense, hoping to dog down my "daughter" and the district attorney by prolonging the case with the endless search for doctors forever, failed. After an outburst in court from my "daughter" about the delays, the process was finally sped up. By April, Christopher plead guilty. The sentencing date was set for July 11. He could face up to 60 years.

Outside the courtroom was chaotic. Words were exchanged between families as we were coming to the terms of the truth. Some family members had to be escorted out the building. No one was permitted to speak of the case till after the sentencing. That includes me blogging about it. I didn't feel like sitting in jail for contempt of court.

The case changed all of us. My son wonders why to why Christopher did this hideous act. My son barely acknowledges Christopher's existence and clams up when anyone speaks to him about it. To this day, I not sure how traumatized he is over this. He refuses counseling. My" daughter" finally saw the err of some her ways of thinking and sought to make herself a better person.

The day finally came to where justice can finally be served. Tension filled the courtroom as the police filled the place with their presence. This could get ugly, I thought. After the reading transcripts from the previous court times, the defense (including me) made statements to the court. Some these statements were teary eyed and full of emotion. The defense tried to show leniency by promoting probation only, then they tried to explain to the court that my ex-wife lied about a statement she made. (Whether it was a surprise to me or not, it didn't matter, I felt it was irrelevant it this point).

The pre-sentence investigation and an Illinois forensic psychologist suggested that community treatment would be a better option for Christopher than prison.

In a surprise move, Christopher made a statement-begging for leniency and apologized the victim's families. That fell on deaf ears for Judge Torhorst. "I simply believe you are and will continue to be a serious risk, not a minimal risk but a serious risk," he said. Christopher was sentenced to ten years in prison plus 15 years of extended supervision.

As we were corralled out the courtroom by the police, I couldn't help to wonder if justice was really served. Christopher WAS a good kid, but he what he did. There is no changing that. He got what he deserved. Somehow I can't help the feeling that he can be helped. (If that is possible) Just one question remains is to WHY?

Links for further reading...

The Journal Times 7-11-2011

The Journal Times 4-23-210

The Journal Times 4-23-2010

Look What I've Found!

2011-07-06T20:49:00.003-05:00

My girlfriend's son is an obsessed KISS fan. The last time he came down to visit us, I ended up showing him my KISS albums that I have on vinyl. Still inside were all of the memorabilia of posters, stickers and such. Also inside was a receipt....

Three days after my 13th birthday, I bought two KISS albums for a total $12.44. Sounds cheap today considering that prices we pay today. I remember saving up birthday money and allowance just to buy records.....Kinda neat....

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T00:38:00.009-05:00

Have a happy and safe 4th of July !!!!

What ever you do, don't do anything stupid like this....

Learning Isn't Hard When you Got Your Library Card...

2011-07-03T12:14:00.002-05:00

When money's tight, another good source of music is via the library. I made a few trips there recently to pick up CD's to burn. One trip a book sale where I picked up a dozen albums for a buck.

Here's a list of what I've picked up recently...

Aerosmith: O, Yeah! The Ultimate Hits
Asia: Live Around the World
the Babys: Anthology
Bon Jovi: The Circle
David Bowie: Station to Station
Chicago: V
Chicago: VII
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Pendulum
Al Di Meola; Scenario
Dixie Dregs: Freefall
Dixie Dregs: Night of Living Dregs
Dixie Dregs: Dregs of the Earth
Melissa Etheridge; The Awakening
Melissa Etheridge: Fearless Love
Peter Gabriel: (s/t)
Peter Gabriel: Security
Rory Gallagher: Irish Tour
Steve Hackett: Please Don't Touch!
Steve Hackett: Spectral Mornings
Steve Hackett: Defector
Heavy Metal (soundtrack)
Jethro Tull: A
Paul Kantner & the Jefferson Starship: Blows Against the Empire
King Crimson: Lizard
Marillion: Fugazi
Pet Methany Group: Offramp
North Mississippi Allstars: Hernando
Ozzy Osbourne: Scream
Elvis Presley: Elvis' Christmas Album
the Pretenders: Learning to Crawl
Soul Asylum: Black Gold
Bruce Springsteen: The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen: Devils & Dust
Bruce Springsteen: Live in Dublin
Bruce Springsteen: Magic
Bruce Springsteen: Working on a Dream
Billy Squier: Emotions in Motion
Steely Dan: Aja
Stephen Stills: (s/t)
Supertramp: Retrospectale
Pete Townsend: Empty Glass
Pete Townsend: Chinese Eyes
Neil Young: Unplugged
ZZ Top: Rancho Texicano

Styx at Summerfest!

2011-07-02T02:12:00.005-05:00

Styx gets a bad rap. They’re one of those punch-line bands that people claim to like ironically. This is both unfair and stupid. There’s a subset of great classic rock bands that are being kept out of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for having the gall to be too popular. Along with Journey, Kiss, Rush, Boston and Chicago, it seems that success and longevity have worked against them. No matter, though, because an evening with Styx is what rock n’ roll is really all about.

At Summerfest tonight, it was no exception...Styx blasted off the night with one of their signature hits with Blue Collar Man (Long Nights), setting the tone for a wonderful evening of classic blasts from the past. Followed by the rousing "The Grand Illusion" the entire audience was standing on the aluminum bleacher benches of the M&I Classic Rock Stage like drunks on skateboards. Nevertheless, I did manage a few good shots of the band. Anyways, my attention was turned towards the band itself.

Styx, a band that's a shell of it's former self, relied on Lawrence Gowen to tackle the vocal and keyboard void left by original member Dennis DeYoung. Taking the calling of the 12 year veteran he is, Gowan, showcased the multi-talented force off he is on "Lady" and "I'm O.K." He has that unique ability to fuse constant energy with vocal brillance. Kinda made you forget about DeYoung....

James Young, the guitarist and the only original member left, kicked in his two cents worth. Hovered the stage with his towering pose on "Lorelei" and "Miss America", his distinctive vocals and his fingerwork on his axe shined brilliantly!

All eyes were on Tommy Shaw as most of the Styx's popular material is from this talented guitarist/singer. Charged with charisma, Shaw bounced around from one side of stage to the other, with his long blond mane flowing. Recalling his days of joining Styx after the Equinox album, Shaw leads the band into a moving version of "Crystal Ball".

The real surprise of the night was the special appearance of original bassist, Chuck Panozzo. Sidelined at times due to health issues concerning his struggles with HIV, Panozzo received a warm welcome as strapped on the bass to jam with his bandmates on the Grand Illusion hits, "Fooling Yourself (An Angry Young Man)" and "Come Sail Away".

When I was shouting out the chorus to “Come Sail Away” at the top of my lungs, and considering the absurdity of the lyric “I thought that they were angels, but much to my surprise, they climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies,” I cracked a giant smile. At this point, I realized that the people who make fun of this band, or others like it, have no rock n’ roll soul, and their opinion doesn’t matter. It was a night for rock and roll anyways...

The setlist-

Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
The Grand Illusion
Too Much Time on My Hands
Lady
Lorelei
Man in the Wilderness
I'm O.K.
Crystal Ball
Fooling Yourself (An Angry Young Man)
Castle Walls
Miss America
Come Sail Away

I Am the Walrus
Renegade

Into the Darkness....

2011-07-01T07:17:00.000-05:00

Power was restored four hours ago while I was sleeping...Around 8:30 last night, just as I was checking through my blogs, power went out at place. Strong winds up to 70 mph, blasted Racine's coastline from a storm over the lake. Basically, what we got was an outflow from the storm, a big downburst of wind. With nothing to do, we headed out to take pictures of the storm damage.

Waves off Lake Michigan at the lighthouse

Downed tree on Four Mile Road by the lighthouse

Downed tree near English and Green Streets

According to the Journal Times this morning, most of the outages were in the City of Racine, about 8,900 customers. About 2,000 Caledonia customers, 450 in Wind Point and 350 in Mount Pleasant were reportedly without power. A long night for public workers...

On Vacation....

2011-06-29T21:49:00.002-05:00

Today, I've started my vacation. I should dancing around and celebrating, but I'm not. Why? Well, money's tight this year. After paying the bills and making car payments, I'm searching my pockets to find loose change and I'm finding mostly lint. So this means some of the things that I'd really like to do are severely limited.

Well for sure, seeing U2 at Soldier Field is out. I definitely can not afford to pay the $250 or more for what is asked for a ticket.

Summerfest, I may go on Friday to see Styx and the Los Lonely Boys on the side stages. July 5th does sound good as well with Paul Rodgers. So does Kansas on the 7th. I'm taking it day by day.

For the rest of the vacation, nothing is really planned. Going Up North and/or camping has been discussed, but nothing set in stone. I've been looking online to see what going on around the region. Something tells me, I'll find something soon. As it stands, I'm taking it day by day.

At least, I'm sleeping in.....

Satuday Night Videos

2011-06-26T10:06:00.000-05:00

I've been around....traveled... Over the years of my life, I've seen the majestic snow capped mountains of Colorado reflecting a mirror image on a crystal clear lake. Seen the vast waters and felt the sea breeze of the Pacific Ocean as I waded in the waves off the coast of Oregon. Gazed in wonder along the lines of palm trees at the golden sandy hills of Southern California. Yet, to this Midwestern native from Wisconsin, there is no place like home...

Home, that someone would describe as "flat as a pancake". Yeah. From what I see in this land of rolling hills of corn, the ample barns and silos and desolate towns and villages is the integrity of the people who live here. The integrity of who we are... Farmers and industrial workers. The blue collar of America's Heartland and taking pride in who we are....

Yet, some amazing music has come from America's heartland... First we have John Cougar Mellencamp. Born and raised in Indiana, Mellencamp often sang about teen rebellion, the plight of the farmers and life of the heartland of America.... He often gets political, but we're not going to into to it are we? Here's one of my favorites, "Small Town", from the Scarecrow album.

Next is Kansas, a progressive rock band from where else? Kansas, of course. This six piece band rose to fame in the '70's with their heart warming lyrics of spiritual uplifting, Native Americans and other things that will ponder the mind. Their music is a mix of American-style boogie-rock and complex, symphonic arrangements with changing time signatures. Here is a cool video of one of their lesser known songs, "Cheyenne Anthem" off of their best album, Leftoverture.

The recent passing of Clarence Clemons, of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band had affected me deeply. Few musicians can match the "Big Man" in the terms of the sax.His sax solo on "Jungleland" is one of the most impressive I've ever heard. I've never seen Bruce Springsteen in concert, but I've heard it's an experience itself. An experience I'd always wanted to try. "The Boss", lyrically has the most visionary approach to the America's Heartland that I've ever known. His blue collar feel singing away about the misfortunes of America, yet embracing to the heart. Springsteen is the true defender of the faith in the heart of America.

Just Not Feeling Well

2011-06-23T19:19:00.003-05:00

"CRUNCH, CRUNCH!" Sleepily, I barely opened my eyes to a sound that I was familiar with. Harley was munching on an ice cube my girlfriend's daughter had given her. Bundled comfortably under layers of sheets and blankets, I did not want to get up! I had to. Somehow, I did an Ozzy Osbourne stumble to the bathroom. My head was in a fog. I'm all congested, barely able to breathe. Somehow, I made it back to bed. Just as I drifted back off to hang with the Sandman, my girlfriend brings me a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a grilled ham n' cheese. Perfect! As if she could read my thoughts....

We both went to Prompt Care earlier this week to find relief for our hacking coughs and feverish heads. Doctors told us that we both have asthmatic bronchitis and gave us antibiotics for relief. Somehow, my girlfriend has found relief sooner than me. Here I am, in a daze... Hopefully I'll feel better soon, because next week, my vacation starts...

Satuday Night Videos

2011-06-19T01:05:00.002-05:00

As summer is getting closer to the mark, I've been finding myself hitting rummage sales and thrift shops, anywhere I could buy music for real cheap. One of these stops, was at at a blogging friend RWWackoStu's rummage sale in Sturtevant. There I picked up Oranges and Lemons from XTC. Those who don't know XTC, it is a band that is best described as New Wave meets the psychedelia pop of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's and the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds with a twist of REM. Sounds different don't it? It is. Oranges and Lemons is a record exploding with details, while sonically rich and filled with immaculately crafted songs.

This afternoon, my girlfriend and I stopped at the library to check out the book sale that they were having there. Not only we picked up some books and video cassettes for dirt cheap, I picked up a dozen albums for a buck. Two of these were for the Southern prog rock band, the Dixie Dregs. I've heard of these guys before and I was familiar with the guitarist Steve Morse who played for Kansas and Deep Purple. The Dixie Dregs is a complicated band. Mostly instrumental, the Dregs employ a wide variety of sounds to the listener. It's Southern rock with a violin player and a keyboardist. Kinda like an instrumental version of Lynyrd Skynyrd meeting with Kansas, Yes and bluegrass. Hard to explain, yet I like it. To make our day, we ran into OrbsCorbs on the way out.

The band I've been digging SOOO much lately is Badfinger. Although my Badfinger tapes have been silent for the past few years, much of the resurgence was due of interest in john's Rock Roots blog. As I pulled my tapes to listen to, I remembered what I was forgetting-a Beatleque like band with strong catchy hooks and crafty lyrics. Anyone can sing along to their songs! Anyways, Badfinger suffered dearly due mismanagement of the band. Once recording under the Beatles' Apple Records label, the band fell under hard times when Apple Records went under. Unable to secure a new label, the band went under. Because of the financial issues, guitarist/vocalist Peter Ham committed suicide by hanging, followed by the baas player Tom Evans years later. A damn shame, These are f#*king good! If you love the Beatles, you'll like these guys!

A Sad Day for Asbury Park.

2011-06-19T00:24:00.004-05:00

Clarence Clemons, the larger-than-life saxophone player for the E Street Band who was one of the key influences in Bruce Springsteen's life and music through four decades, has died. He was 69.

Clemons died Saturday night after being hospitalized about a week ago following a stroke at his home in Singer Island, Fla.

"We are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 years," Springsteen said on his website. "He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

At the Fair....

2011-06-15T18:36:00.003-05:00

While there has been an abundance of bands playing at Summerfest year, one may not want to fork out $70 per ticket for an act at the Marcus Amphitheater. Even though admission for Summerfest is $15, there are the crowds and the traffic jams though downtown Milwaukee. There are other alternatives for good live music. County Fairs!

I know, I know, most of these fairs have your typical yee haw pig chasing, tractor pulling, demo derby fun ....and a lot of country. After sifting through site after site, I've found a few acts of interest across the southeast portions of the state.

Wisconsin State Fair West Allis, WI

ZZ Top Tuesday, August 9 2011
Whitesnake with Skid Row and LA Guns Thursday August 11 2011

Rock Fest Cadott, WI

Slaughter Thursday August 14 2011
Cinderella Thursday August 14 2011
Three Days Grace Thursday August 14 2011
Kid Rock Friday August 15 2011
Avenged Sevenfold Saturday August 16 2011
Jackyl Sunday August 17 2011
Tesla Sunday August 17 2011
Heart Sunday August 17 2011
Def Leppard Sunday August 17 2011

Rock USA Oshkosh, WI

Cheap Trick Thursday July 14 2011
Puddle of Mudd Thursday July 14 2011
Daughtry Thursday July 14 2011
Firehouse Friday July 15 2011
Warrant Friday July 15 2011
Candlebox Friday July 15 2011
Lynryrd Skynyrd Friday July 15 2011
Journey Friday July 15 2011
Dokken Saturday July 16 2011
KISS Saturday July 16 2011

Waukesha County Fair Waukesha, WI

Ted Nugent Thursday July 21 2011
Creedence Clearwater Revisited Friday July 22 2011
Collective Soul Saturday July 23 2011
Beach Boys Sunday July 24 2011

Wisconsin Valley Fair Wausau, WI

Beach Boys Tuesday August 2 2011
Sawyer Brown Thursday August 4 2011
Styx Friday August 5 2011

Washington County Fair West Bend, WI

.38 Special/Loverboy Thursday July 28 2011
Train Saturday July 30 2011

Fond du Lac County Fair Fond du Lac, WI

Beach Boys Thursday July 21 2011
Tesla Saturday July 23 2011

Outagamie County Fair Seymour, WI

Ted Nugent Thursday July 28 2011

Walworth County Fair Elkhorn, WI

Doobie Brothers Sunday September 4 2011

Racine County Fair Union Grove, WI

the Guess Who Thursday July 21 2011

Kinda impressive, huh? I know that I'm not going to see them all. Depending on where I'm at (weather here in Racine or Up North) I may go see some of these bands. So far, the Doobies is a sure thing...

Cosmic Railroad

2011-06-12T16:11:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was my birthday...To treat ourselves, we to see one of Southeast Wisconsin's best local acts, Cosmic Railroad, at their Family Gathering Pre Show Party. Located at the Local 72 Union Hall in Kenosha, the band pulled out an excellent show!

This is how the night went...

Doors to the place opened at 8:00. Looking around from the parking lot, I could see the usual tye-die hippie attire. This had to be the place...The first band that played was Terry n' the Front. From the first few bars of the Grateful Dead's "Feels Like a Stranger", I knew this going to be a long night. Five hours of music-with no place to sit down. Not wanting to hear another chessy Dead tribute band, we went back to the car and waited out the first band.

The second act, Asparagi, didn't fare any better in my eyes. Taking on a darker sound, this jam band sounded forced. The drums were too loud, drowning out the guitars. The singer seemed to be shouting into the microphone. Disgusted, we went back to the car to wait Cosmic Railroad to begin setting up.

Churning out free flowing, laid back sounds that immediately took me into a cosmic experience, Cosmic Railroad utilizes three guitar players, two drummers and a bass player. Cosmic Railroad is surprisingly unheavy while still utilizing all the guitars for some nice interplay. These guys listen to and feed off one another without going over the top. The teamwork of the two drummers is absolutely incredible, locking into a rhythmic groove that is addicting.

To describe Cosmic Railroad is rather difficult. The best way I could say it is, the Grateful Dead meets the Allman Brothers and Phish without the keyboards. Their catalog consists a different setlist each time they play. The band leaves up the moment to pick the next song. This is where you can see their mastery. As the night moves on, they continue to pick up steam, and things really start to roll. They'll do a Dead tune like "China Cat Sunflower" that would roll into an original tune of theirs like "Carolina" before segueing into the Phish-like epic of "Marco Polo" Then somehow, you're hearing "China Cat" again.

Just who is Cosmic Railroad? Well, they are a jam band based out of southeastern Wisconsin, forming in sometime in 1999. I remember seeing them several times playing in dives in the early 2000's. Each time I saw them, I noticed their fan base getting bigger and bigger. The past few years, I've noticed them playing in festivals all over the Midwest, including appearances in Jamaica. I would not be surprised (in fact, I hope they do) if they do get a recording contract.

The line up hasn't changed for them ever. The band consists of :

Greg Gierl -Guitars and Vocals
Brandon Shilts -Guitars and Vocals
Pete Rallo -Guitars and Vocals
Paul Aceto -Bass and Vocals
Mike White -Drums and Percussion
Shawn Laurence -Drums and Percussion

Here's one of my favorite tunes from Cosmic Railroad-Carolina.

For more information on Cosmic Railroad, check out their website.

Happy Birthday to My "Granddaugther"

2011-06-08T21:33:00.003-05:00

I've mentioned about her before on my blog that I have a "granddaughter". Biologically she isn't my granddaughter, but she might as well be. How do I explain this? Well, my granddaughter's mother is my ex-wife's niece. My ex-wife and I raised her as if she our child, since she was four years till she was 20, when we got divorced. So to speak, she is like a daughter to me. (You get me so far?) Anyways, my granddaughter turned four years old today. She is cute little girl and and a bundle of energy. I really don't how anyone could keep up with her, yet the smile on my face is ear to ear when she calls me Gampa.

Anyways, my girlfriend and I had a cookout to celebrate her forth birthday. Along with our own kids (my son and her youngest daughter) we had burgers, brats and of course, cake! A good time was held by all....

Call it the Bargain...

2011-06-07T20:01:00.004-05:00

Summer's practically here and my girlfriend and I already hit the rummages sales and the thrift shops. I'm kinda like my friend, Crabb, who like to out and look for music dirt cheap. Hey, much of my music COMES from rummage sales and thrift shops. In the past couple of weeks, I've come home with a quite a bit of stuff! Here's a sample of what I've gotten.

Asia Phoenix
Autograph Sign in Please
Babys Anthology
Blues Traveler North Hollywood Shootout
Meredith Brooks Blurring the Edges
Cult Ceremony
Donovan Barabajal
Feet of Clay (s/t) (local band)
Heaven & Hell The Devil You Know
Honeymoon Suite The Big Prize
Billy Joel 52nd Street
Billy Joel The Stranger
John Cougar Mellencamp Big Daddy
Van Morrison Moondance
Van Morrison The Best of Van Morrison
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Mojo
Pure Prairie League Bustin' Out
Soul Asylum Let Your Dim Light Shine
Steely Dan A Decade of Steely Dan
Toto (s/t)
XTC Oranges and Lemons
Yes Yesyears (box set)

The biggest "steal" I got was the Garth Brooks' The Limited Series box set for my girlfriend. A six disc limited edition box set (perfect condition) for five bucks.

This doesn't include the numerous upgrades I've got as well... Think I've got enough music? You're right...Nah.....

Amar Caballero

2011-06-05T00:06:00.001-05:00

When I first heard of Babe Ruth, I was a young teen no more than 14, 15 , maybe 16 years old at the time. I was at a friend's house playing cards when he pulled out their debut, First Base. The album's first track, "Wells Fargo", took me by storm with the killer intro guitar riffing, Janita Haan's Joplin-like vocals and the hot sax solo in the end! As my buddy explained it to me then, Babe Ruth had broken up a long time ago and the album was out of print.

Not deterred by the out of print status, I spent much of the decade searching high and low for a copy of the album. Back then, there was no Internet, no Amazon, no way to order for it. If it was out of print, it was OUT of print. Years later, at a rummage sale, I finally did get it on vinyl...

Fast forward to now...During a recent trip to the library, I stumbled across a CD of Babe Ruth's First Base AND their second album, Amar Caballero. Whoa... An incredible find, if you ask me. Well, I could use a CD copy to crank it in my car and as for the second album...I NEVER even heard of it before! I snatched that baby up right away...

Glad I did...

Acknowledged more here in the States, than their homeland of England, Babe Ruth enjoyed their moderate success in the early '70's with a cult following. After hearing both First Base and Amar Caballero, one could easily see why. Babe Ruth is one of those bands that are willing to stick their necks out and take a risk. Amar Cabellero is a prime example of that.

Starting off with the bluesy/jazz classical "Lady" this 1973 release is a cornucopia of styles and genres led by guitarist Alan Shacklock. A mellowed out "Broken Cloud" follows. Rocker tune "Gimme Some Leg" has got some wild Joplin like vocals from Janita Haan with a killer guitar solo to end the track. The Spanish flamenco styled guitar work on "Baby Pride" was relaxing as it was impressive.

By halfway through this album, it was more and more apparent of the Latin influences that dominated this record. The crazy assed "Cool Jerk" gives prog rock a salsa twist. My head just spun around to hear the tone of the record change so quick. An instrumental classical tune called, "We are Holding On" was preceding the weird psychedelic funk of "Doctor Love". The eight minute title track end the record reminds me of Santana.

I'll admit that this album is not for everyone. It does take awhile for a listener to get used to. The band shows a great potential and that's because the wide variety of influences displayed here. That's were the understanding of the cult status comes in...

North Beach Oasis

2011-06-01T21:28:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day...Not only it is time for remembering our fallen troops that served our beloved country, it is the time for relaxing, beer and brats, and enjoying the sunshine at the annual opening of the North Beach Oasis. The Oasis, a concession stand that serves as a centerpiece for the North Beach, provides not only beer, soda and good food-offers live music. On some weeknights on and every weekend musicians from various local bands either jam together or put on a show with their own band. Over the years, I've seen a variety of local acts such as Mean Jake, Full Flavor, the Radioactive Squirrels, Melvin Barker and the Bluz Cruise, Roy Edwards Band, Shameless Place and many many more! All at NO COVER CHARGE!

A local jam session with various musicians

A typical crowd at the Oasis

View of the beach from the Oasis...

As you can tell, it's one of my favorite summer hangouts. So, what's your favorite summer hangout?

Chocolate Fest 2011

2011-05-29T23:04:00.008-05:00

Ever wonder where your Nestle's Crunch Bars, Butterfingers and 100 Grand Bars come from? One of those places is Burlington, Wisconsin. Burlington is a small community with a population of 10,000 located about 30 miles west of Racine. Affectionately nicknamed "Chocolate City, U.S.A." after the Nestle's plant was built here in 1966, ChocolateFest has been a regular attraction for Burlington for 25 years on the Memorial Day weekend.

Over the weekend, I took my girlfriend (whom never been there) and my son to visit this spectacle. Even though the skies were cloudy with a few raindrops, the temperatures were in the upper '60's. We had fun, anyways.

The centerpiece of the festival

The midway were rides, games, vendors and delicious food are sold.

Kids digging through chocolate looking for hidden treasures

Dresses made from candy wrappers.
(They actually had a fashion show with these!)

Springtime in Racine

2011-05-24T18:59:00.006-05:00

Spring has come rather slowly this year. Though we have had a couple of 70 degree days, temperatures has been rather cool lately. That didn't stop me from embracing the coming of the season after a long, cold winter. Here's a couple of pics from a drive around town...

Some apple blossoms on Main Street, downtown Racine.

A para-skier cruising along on Lake Michigan at North Beach.

A family of geese along the lake shore drive
(taken from a cell phone)

Some Concerts I've Been To

2011-05-23T20:50:00.002-05:00

This is kinda neat!

On my last blog on Saturday Night Videos, I came across a video of a concert that I've been to. Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam from Summerfest in Milwaukee back in '09. This intrigued me to look for some more. Guess what? I found some!

The video above is from the Guns n' Roses show I saw at Alpine Valley on 5/25/1991. Yeah, I remember seeing Axl Rose in that umpire outfit that he is wearing, thinking WTF? My only guess it for protection from flying sod at the show. People from the lawn seats were chucking sod into the reserved seats where I was sitting. Not my kind of fun. The music was great, but the audience was behaving poorly. To top it off, Axl encouraged this kind of behavior.

The next video is from the Heart show I saw on The M&I Stage at Summerfest on 6/30/2009. Went the show with a companion and met up with a mutual friend of ours there. Ann Wilson sure can belt out her vocals after all these years. I believe you can see the back of me at 2:53 in the video. (I remember talking to the dude in the cowboy hat)

This video is from the Yes concert I saw last year's Summerfest on the M&I Stage. Went there with my girlfriend and my son. Even though it wasn't the "classic" lineup of Yes, they put out a great show! I blogged about this show last July.

And finally, Rush! Saw them inside the Marcus Amphitheater at Summerfest on 7/3/2010. My girlfriend and I attended this one as well. Perhaps the best show I've seen in ages! Blogged about this one as well...

Thank God for YouTube! So many treasures one can find there...Just wondering if anybody can find a show they went on YouTube...

Saturday Night Videos

2011-05-22T00:57:00.002-05:00

As I was on my way off to to attended my girlfriend's youngest daughter's graduation party in Elkhorn, I found myself listening to Back Door Slam's first album, Roll Away. As I was explaining my girlfriend about what a phenomenal guitar player Davy Knowles was, I finding myself molding into that blues/jam band frame of mind. Yet, I wanted to do Davy Knowles justice with his live music. Now, I don't have any Back Door Slam live materiel in my collection, just recollection of seeing him in concert back in the summer of '09 at Summerfest.

After I returned home, I dug through YouTube on a search for some excellent live Knowles. Guess what I found? The very show I saw at Summerfest almost two years ago! Reeling back memories and getting stoked here, I was totally amazed to even FIND a show that I've been to. As I was watching the video, I noticed whomever was recording this show was sitting behind me and off to the right. (We were in the first row on the left) So, I didn't myself nor my companion in the vid, yet I did some familiar faces.

We DID get to meet Davy Knowles and his manager after show, thanks to our friend, Joe Heuer, the Rock and Roll Guru. Davy Knowles seems like a very humble young kid, unaffected by his recent fame. Really pleasant to hang with. My companion and I were thinking of staying to see Buddy Guy, who playing after wards, but we had to leave early to catch an early flight to California.

On the way home, I was in the mood for some Rolling Stones. This time, something off their mysterious classic Exile on Main Street. The Stone's most druggist and creative effort ever! Recorded in a dirty basement in France and smacked up on heroin, the Stones pulled off an album that was considered among the best in rock and roll per say.

As I was sifting through videos, I came across a local band I used to get into back in the '90's-Zoot Suit Boogie. Their guitarist Robert Allen Jr, held me captivate with his impressive hollowed bodied Eliphone guitar flowing through a tiny Fender amp playing the blues....

You Can't Kill Rock and Roll

2011-05-19T21:54:00.003-05:00

Lately I've been stressing out over work and money issues. It seems that no matter how hard I work or how many hours I put in it never seems to be enough. More work, more rules and not enough time for me...SIGH...

At the end of the day, it is so refreshing to summon up the remaining energy and rage I have to crank this tune FULL BLAST! Kinda reflects how I feel about certain things....

Mescalaro

2011-05-18T22:19:00.003-05:00

As I was cooking out my grill not so long ago, I threw this in my boom box to give it a good listen. It was one of those albums that I've listened to a couple of times then later shelved. Why?

ZZ Top, although a great band, for the past 40 years has basically kept the same formula. Intro, verse, chorus, second verse, chorus, guitar solo, third verse, chorus and last guitar solo. A simple, yet tired and true formula. It works for ZZ Top. And they pull it off their 14th studio release, Mescalaro.

The album starts off with the chugging bass thump of the title cut. Familiarity settles in... As I was swigging my beer, I was thinking, "OK, this is not so bad..." It still has that Texas larger than life blues boogie. Billy Gibbons still has that fiery blues guitar attack. The rhythm section of bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard still have that tight punch. What's new in the this song, the lyrics are in Spanish! I'm tripping out here.

As the album moves along here, I'm noticing the familiar fuzzbox Rockman crunch reminiscent of the Recycler album. It's like they are taking a couple of steps back to move forward. Nothing here really new. It doesn't suck, but there is nothing new to the table. "AlleyGator" has got some ferocious guitar solos on it. Tunes like "Buck Nekkid" and "Me So Stupid" displays some of their off the wall sexual humor that the band is famous for.

Why fix something that isn't broken? Sure ZZ Top will continue to slug out their "That Little Ol' Band from Texas" trademark sound as long as the fans are loving it. As redundant as it may sound, I do like this album...

video link

Wisconsin Jokes

2011-05-17T22:10:00.000-05:00

Have heard of a site called the Uncyclopedia? If you haven't, check it out. Its satire is rather hysterical... Here's a sample of their entry for Wisconsin.

If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 38 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights each year because Park Falls is the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you have ever refused to buy something because it's "too pricey," you might live in Wisconsin.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the year, you might live in Wisconsin.

If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, you might live in Wisconsin.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you may not have actually eaten it, but you have heard of Head Cheese, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you have either a pet or a child named "Brett," you might live in Wisconsin.

If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you think California is dumb jest because of their milk production, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you know how to say Ashwaubenon, Eau Claire, Waupaca, Shawano, Suamico, Oconomowoc, Waukesha. Wautoma, Menominee & Manitowoc, you might live in Wisconsin.

If every time you see moonlight on a lake, you think of a dancing bear, and you sing gently, "From the land of sky-blue waters,"....you might live in Wisconsin.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE WISCONSINITE WHEN:

1. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.

2. "Vacation" means going up north past Hwy 8 for the weekend.

3. You measure distance in hours.

4. You know several people who have hit deer more than once.

5. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again.

6. Your whole family wears Packer Green to church on Sunday.

7 . You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard at night, without flinching.

8. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings and funerals).

9. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

10. You think of the major food groups as beer, bratwurst, and cheese.

11. You carry jumper cables in your car and your wife or girlfriend knows how to use them.

12. There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Mill's Fleet Farm at any given time.

13. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

14. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

15. You refer to the Packers as "we."

16. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.

17. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.

18. You have no problem pronouncing Lac Du Flambeau.

19. You consider Minneapolis exotic.

20. You know how to polka.

21. Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.

22. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.

23. Down South to you means Illinois.

24. A brat is something you eat.

25. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole shed.

26. You go out to fish fry every Friday.

27. Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.

28. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

29. You find minus twenty degrees "a little chilly."

30. Attend a High-School with less than 500 students, in the entire district.

Gotta admit some it is true...

Blogger Down

2011-05-13T18:21:00.003-05:00

The last couple of days have been harrowing indeed! Never mind the fact that today is Friday the 13th when the good luck ends. Blogger has been down since Thursday morning into mid day today. I could read the blogs, but I couldn't post any comments, sign in, nor much of anything else-just read... Any click of the the mouse directed me to an error message and/or Blogger not available page. Thinking the problem my be at my end, I had cleaned my computer out, taking viral scans. No change.

I'm aware of Blogger shutting down for maintenance issues from time to time, but NEVER for this long. As the hours passed, I began to wonder if my computer was really starting to freak out. Just to be sure if anyone else was having this issue, I called my good friend Lizardmom of the JTI to ask her if she was having any problems. Sure enough, she was... At least my computer was fine.

As sat vigil over the computer waiting for Blogger to fix their problem, I began to notice the situation was getting worse. Blogs posts and comments were starting disappear-like a virus spending throughout the system. I began to worry if this was the end for Blogger. My mind raced-what will happen to the JTI? How I be able to recover my blog? All those years of hard work gone!

That ray of hope shown through mid day today when Blogger was finally restored. As I surveyed the damage, I noticed that the blog posts that had disappeared, returned. I had lost some unfinished blog posts that I had planned. Many comments remained missing.

Blogger never gave a logical reason to what the problem was, but issued a statement. Hopefully, they'll be able to finish the loose ends of this madness up soon.

At least I can breathe again...

Saturday Night Videos

2011-05-08T01:58:00.002-05:00

I tend to stay up late on Saturday nights, chilling out after a long weeks of work with a couple of beers and listen to some great music. Nothing is more soothing to the soul than some great music. Here's where I can kick up my feet and relax. Anyways, this sharing my thoughts and introducing the music that I listen to could become a regular thing....

My first pick of the night is "The End" by the Doors from there debut album released in 1967. Jim Morrison's amazing poetry and baritone vocals always have given me the chills. His lyrics can become deep and meaningless, yet the provoke the mind. The tune starts off slow then it cascades to an apocalyptic Oedipal ending with shocking lyrics. I was stunned the first time I heard this tune...

If that didn't shock you. the next tune will..

Some of you maybe ready to break out your lava lamps and black velvet posters. The Rolling Stones went through their psychedelic/golden years in the late '60's and early '70's with albums like Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. There wasn't much that could be wasted here, even the deep cuts were something to behold... "Jigsaw Puzzle" off of their Beggars Banquet album (released in 1968) set a tone further beyond the Beatles' bad boy imagine-with a huge amount of talent! No disrespect towards the Beatles-I love 'em! The Stones pushed the envelope of censorship, shocking shocking people with their creativity... Yes, "Sympathy for the Devil" is on the same album.

I've been working on my DrewTube blog lately. It's a documentation of my album collection. Just started a couple of months ago. It's project in the works and will take years to finish...So far, I've gotten to Allmam Brothers Band. Yep, I've got that many albums and bootlegs. Here is the latest entry....Live from Austin City Limits...Unfortunately, I can't embedded from that show, but I'll leave you with "Ramblin' Man" from the House of Blues in 1995.

ENJOY!

Rock and Roll Trivia

2011-05-05T20:44:00.003-05:00

Since the the first Rock and Roll Trivia was successful, I'd thought I'd give it a run....

1) What famous musician named his guitar Blackie?

2) What was the first album to be released on Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label?

3) What bands (or musicians) can you name came from Canada?

4) Who was the loudest band in concert?

Locks of Love

2011-05-02T21:43:00.003-05:00

My good friend, Brandie who will 46 years later this mouth, suffers from cancer. She has two lovely children ages 12 and 10. I can not begin to describe to what she going through. One thing though, her free spirit and her will to live absolutely amazes me! Anyways, she sent me an email about a worthy cause...

A Mother’s Day Wish
By Brandie

As mother’s day is rapidly approaching, many moms and mommy-to-be hope and pray that their children will grow healthy and happy.

But some moms like me are battling cancer and very grateful that they can spend another mother’s day with their children and loved ones. So as I prepare to celebrate this wonderful holiday with my children and family, I ask and pray that people will remember and be thankful for their caring and healthy mom.

My mother’s day wish is that people will take a minute and think about that some moms who are battling an illness and yet staying strong and fighting to spend more time with their children. So now you are asking what can I do to help these moms with their fight? There are many things a person can do to lift their spirits.

I am not asking people to donate money for a cause. I understand that with today economy many families are struggling. But there are ways to help. The biggest thing is take some time and donate blood/platelets. Many cancer patients rely on donators for live saving blood to help battle their cancer.

The other way to help is to donate hair to Locks of Love. This is the simplest and painless way to help. For locks of Love there are no age restrictions, hair type, or color. The only thing is to have at least 8-10 inches of hair that can be cut. It takes 10 people to donate their hair to make one wig. As a wig wearer myself, due to the chemo treatments stripping me of my curly locks, I found that I feel healthy, strong and yet most of all beautiful. Every mothers dream.

I know in south eastern Wisconsin that Great Clips will cut the hair for free as long you are donating it to Locks of Love, plus they will ship the cut hair to the processing plant in Atlanta Georgia. If you live in an area that doesn’t have a Great Clip, then call your favorite stylist/salon and they may be able to point you in the right direction.

Please take the time and help a mom enjoy another Mother’s Day.

I would like to wish all moms and mommy to be a very happy and many more Mother’s Day.

I want to thank Brandie for bringing this cause to my attention, hopefully others will find out it. Maybe I should get a haircut...

Summerfest Takes Shape

2011-05-01T21:23:00.003-05:00

It's that time of the year, when line-up for Summerfest to fill up. After browsing through their site, I've seen few acts that I might be interested to see.

Wednesday, June 29 2011
Peter Gabriel at the Marcus Amphitheater
Buddy Guy at the Harley Davidson Roadhouse
Meatloaf at the Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard

Thursday, June 30 2011
Reo Speedwagon at the M&I Classic Rock Stage

Friday, July 1 2011
Los Lonely Boys at the Harley Davidson Roadhouse
Styx at the M&I Classic Rock Stage
Third Eye Blind at the Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard

Saturday, July 2 2011
Maroon 5 at the Miller Lite Oasis

Sunday, July 3 2011
Blue Oyster Cult at the M&I Classic Rock Stage
Jayhawks at the Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard
Don Felder at the Potawatomi Bingo Pavilion

Tuesday, July 5 2011
Def Leppard with Heart at the Marcus Amphitheater
Paul Rodgers at the Miller Lite Oasis
Cinderella at the M&I Classic Rock Stage
Indigenous at the Potawatomi Bingo Pavilion

Wednesday, July 6 2011
Black Keys at the Marcus Amphitheater
Peter Frampton at the M&I Classic Rock Stage

Thursday, July 7 2011
Kansas at the M&I Classic Rock Stage

Friday, July 8 2011
Goo Goo Dolls at the Miller Lite Oasis

Saturday, July 9 2011
Meat Puppets at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage

Sunday, July 10 2011
Todd Rundgren at the Potawatomi Bingo Pavilion

Impressive line up! With the exception of Def Leppard, nothing really jumps out on grabs me like Rush and Yes did last year. With the economy the way it is right now, I'm not sure that I want to pay $70 or more for tickets to go see Def Leppard. I've seen Kansas, Blue Oyster Cult and Heart before. My biggest bet is on July 1 to see Los Lonely Boys and Styx since they are playing at different times.

Rock and Roll Trivia

2011-04-28T20:43:00.003-05:00

I've got something I'd like to try...Rock and Roll Trivia. If it goes well, it may be a regular thing on my blog.

1) What bands can you name with ONE original member through out their career. Extra bonus if you can name that member.

2) Who was Tom Petty's guitar instructor?

3) Where was Lynyrd Skynyrd from?

4) What is Bono's real name?

Easter Up North

2011-04-27T22:13:00.002-05:00

Thursday night, my computer went on a fritz...Firefox crashed and I was barely running off on Internet Explorer. That put the final decision on heading Up North for Easter weekend, besides I figured I really needed to get away from the insanity that been going on lately. Glad that I did!

Friday morning, after I dropped the computer off, I headed off for the boondocks... Breaking away from gray metropolitan of Milwaukee into budding brown and green of the countryside, I felt my heart getting a little lighter. As I was traveling northbound, I could still see patches of snow hidden from the glow of sunlight. Winter was slowly losing her battle against Spring.

The battle between seasons became more evident by the time we reached Appleton. The Wolf River had overflowed its banks, kissing the roadways. I had recalled news stories about major snow storms hitting the area just a few days before. Not much snow now, just water and ice. The lakes were starting to thaw around the edges like ice cubes bobbing in water.

The wildlife seemed to rejoice in the upcoming spring. I saw a small heard of deer just outside the Menominee Indian Reservation. A turkey was trying to decide his fate with traffic just further down the road. By time I left my folks' place Sunday, I've already seen a black squirrel, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, goldfinches and juncos in the birdfeeders. Vultures were gracefully on the wing, soaring high on the thermals. Bufflehead ducks, swans and loons were taking over any open water.
Yes, my girlfriend and I enjoyed the peaceful, easy feeling of the countryside. Before that delicious Easter dinner, we visited the Woodland Trail Winery in Lakewood. Had our partake in wine samples before deciding on a bottle of Northern Ice. Time was well spent visiting our families and friends, enjoying feasts and laughter.

As fast as holidays come, they go. As much as we wanted to stay and relax a little bit more, reality beckoned us to come home. A nasty year long court case with a surprising verdict, work, bills to pay and a computer to pick up.... It won't be long before we head up there again.....

Bootlegs

2011-04-20T22:24:00.000-05:00

Ever since I set up my boom box in front of the TV to record an MTV special on Asia in concert from Tokyo, I've been fascinated with bootlegs. Finding, collecting and doing research on them has been a hobby for me for years.

So what are bootlegs? They are unauthorized live recordings by an artist. They can not be found in stores nor anywhere music can legally be sold. Many of these recordings are sold illegally through online sites. None of profits go to the artists' themselves. However, I'm not interested in any sharp nor form in the business of dealing tapes for cash. Music is priceless.

Getting them was rather interesting. I never bought any from the online sites that are strewn over the internet these days. I never trusted these sites for various reasons. Instead I have recorded them off of the radio, hooked up my tape deck to the VCR from the TV specials like MTV Unplugged, Live 8 and the Woodstock '94 pay per view and even hooked my tape deck to the computer to record downloads of the Internet from sites like the now defunct WinMX. Most of them I've gotten from are from friends. How they got them, the don't ask, don't tell rule applies.

I never have, myself, bootlegged a concert that I've been to. Too risky to get caught. Though I do have FOUR bootlegged shows that I've been to in my collection. That said, I do have a dresser 3/4 full of bootlegged tapes, making them a HUGE part of my collection.

So why all the fuss over bootlegs? Yes, I love live recordings from any artist. To me, they are extensions of the studio work. Where in the studio, the artist can slice and dice to perfect a song, in concert, it's do or die in one take. I've noticed though, the live recordings released by any artist are often "doctored". Meaning that they are mixed, overdubbed or whatever in the studio for release. Kiss Alive! and Led Zeppelin The Song Remains the Same are perfect examples of that. Whereas a bootleg, anyone can get the concert feeling as if you were in the show yourself-flaws and all. The flaws are gives the music its character...

Bootlegs are not perfect either. The sound quality can be barely audible to excellent. Blame can be given to whomever is recording the show and the technology they use. I've noticed in late '60's and the early '70's the recordings are often rare and muddied, while shows later on tended to be a better quality and more common. Thinking about it, a big and bulky tape recorder in smaller venues being stalked by roadies on the rampage versus compact and updated equipment in stadiums. Sometimes one can't be too picky, after all it's a bootleg.

However, there are a few bands that do promote tape trading. Jam bands like the Grateful Dead, the Black Crowes and the Allman Brothers have set ups at their show where can one pick up the finished tape or disc after the show.

Over the years, I've picked up unbelievably awesome and weird recordings. Many of them that captures the true essence and the spirit of the band. There's the Led Zeppelin's Earl's Court run in London at end of their 1975 tour. To this day, I still wonder why at least one of the shows hasn't been released. Aerosmith's Woodstock 1994 show was spectacular! Robert Plant's show in Amsterdam in 1993 was a real trip. A Traffic show at Summerfest had face melting guitar solos on "Dear Mr. Fantasy". Pink Floyd blew up a pig at Oakland in 1977. The Counting Crows wowed me in Chicago in 2004. The Allman Brothers blew my mind at Holmdel, New Jersey with their dual guitar attack on "Jessica" in 1994. I could really could go on and on about all this. I guess I'm gonna have to to more bootleg reviews...

So is your take on bootlegs?

Happy Birthday to My Son!

2011-04-18T20:09:00.002-05:00

Another year has come and gone and today my son turns 14! Hard to believe that he's growing up before my eyes...Once a young lad playing with Hot Wheels in the sandbox in the backyard, is now in 8th grade looking towards high school. I don't see him as often as I would like, he's been keeping busy hanging out with his friends and weight training. I know, a typical teenager. He's already talking about girls...(Oh boy...) So what am I gonna do with him? Be the best Dad I can be for him and teach him the right things. Gotta love him!

The Eagles Alpine Valley East Troy,WI 7/15/1994

2011-04-17T21:41:00.001-05:00

It's been a long time since I've done a bootleg review. This time it's about a concert that I've been to. Yep, I do have FOUR bootlegged concerts in my collection that I've been to. Two of them are Rush, a Robert Plant show and this Eagles one. (No, I didn't bootleg any of these shows, copies of them fell into my hands).

1994 was an impressive year for concerts. Bands like the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, U2, Pearl Jam, and the Eagles were on tour that summer. With tickets prices growing out of control, we opted to see one concert that summer. After much deliberation, the decision fell on to the Eagles, for it was their reunion tour.

A wise choice, I may say (although I regret not seeing Pink Floyd)! The concert ended up being one of my favorite shows that I've been to.

Let me tell you why...

We pulled into the grassy parking lot of Alpine Valley in our Subaru station wagon on a sunny Friday afternoon. Temperatures were warm and comfortable. Pulled out our grill and beer to do some tailgating. As the burgers sizzled on the grill, we were introduced to a couple from Kenosha. As we were sipping the cold brewskis and playing frisbee in the parking lot, the vibes became more evident. The peaceful, easy feeling vibe.

And that vibe lasted into the night.....

Melissa Etheridge opened with an impressive set showcasing her latest tunes off of her Yes I Am album. Her vocals were top notch! The tunes like "Come to My Window", "I'm the Only One", "Bring Me Some Water" and "Yes, I Am" sent shivers down my spine confirming Melissa is the real deal!

As the sun was setting between sets, the vibe was getting stronger as I was laying there on my blanket feeling very calm. Then I heard explosions! Thunder! The roar of the crowd as the opening bars of "Hotel California" filtered through the dusky sky. The show was on! As roar died down, magic was filling the air... I could hear the entire audience singing along to the words! It was so surreal to hear this choir like effect on classics like "New Kid in Town", "Lyin' Eyes" and "Tequila Sunrise". People were dancing like lovers, swaying and singing along with the music. The crowd was cheering loudly for Joe Walsh's crazy antics (like wearing Dr. Suess' Cat in the Hat hat on "Average Ordinary Guy").

For the next three hours and two sets, the band consisting of Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmitt, Joe Walsh and Don Felder, plowed through tunes not only from the Eagles, but solo songs as well! It was quite surprising to hear the Eagles play "Rocky Mountain Way", "Boys of the Summer", "Smuggler's Blues","Dirty Laundry", "Life's Been Good" and "Funk#49".

When I play back the tape of the show, the hairs on arms stand straight up remembering the good, peaceful vibes and the magic of the show. I still wear the smile on my face when I walked up the hill after "Take it Easy" closed the night....

The set list...

Set 1
Hotel California
Victim of Love
A New Kid in Town
Wasted Time
Pretty Maids (All of Them in a Row)
The Girl From Yesterday
I Can't Tell You Why
Ordinary Average Guy Lyin'Eyes
One of These Nights
Tequila Sunrise
Help Me Through the Night
Love Will Keep Us Alive
Forgiveness
You Belong to the Night
Boys of the Summer

Set 2
Funk#49
Dirty Laundry
Smuggler's Blues
Life's Been Good
All She Wants to Do is Dance
Heartache Tonight
Life in the Fast Lane
Get Over It
Amazing Grace
Rocky Mountain Way
Already Gone
Desperado
Take It Easy

She's Coming Around.....

2011-04-14T21:38:00.002-05:00

To those who have had Harley in their prayers...THANK YOU!

It's been a week since, I had taken her to vet. A week of sadness and grief. A week of pondering over a decision that I did not want to make. A week of prayers. Its may be too soon to rejoice, but a miracle is in the works. Harley is coming around!

All last week, Harley seemed to be knocking on death's door. Laying on the floor next to the bed, practically unable to walk. She was very weak, short of breath, listless, lifeless, and didn't want to eat. A visit the vet confirmed a low red blood cell count and may need surgery. Unable to afford treatment, I resigned myself to lose Harley for good.

As I was getting closer to deciding to bring Harley in for her final visit to the vet, a miracle happened! She met me at the door wagging her tail! Just like she used to do all the time! I cried tears of joy.... Slowly, but assuredly she is progressing. She is now eating like normal, walking about on her own and "bugging" me for affection.

She may not be at 100%. She's still weak at times, but she seems to be getting better. I know that I shouldn't get my hopes up to high, but SOME hope is definitely better than none....

Bob Dylan Rocks Vietnam

2011-04-10T20:33:00.006-05:00

In a country were rock and roll is almost non existent and controlled by the government, it is a surprise to hear Vietnam War protesting icon Bob Dylan to perform in Vietnam.

Here's the story as follows-

The 69-year-old Dylan took to the stage in the former Saigon on Sunday, singing such favorites as "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" and "Highway 61 Revisited."

Only about half of the 8,000 seats were sold to a mix of Vietnamese and foreigners who danced on the grass in the warm evening air as Dylan jammed on guitar, harmonica and the keyboard at RMIT University

With more than 60 percent of the country's 86 million people born after the war, many young people here are more familiar with pop stars like Justin Bieber, yet, still, Dylan's music during the tumultuous 1960s touched thousands of people in both nations.

Dylan is one of the top foreign artists to perform in Vietnam, where big-name concerts are still rare and the Communist government maintains strict controls over expression. Dylan's song list had to be preapproved by the government, but promoter Rod Quinton of Ho Chi Minh City-based Saigon Sound System said no restrictions were placed on the extensive set list submitted.

Here the set list-kinda neat huh?