Can't believe it's almost time to usher in a New Year already - where did 2010 go? Before I go out and try to finish my Christmas Shopping on a busy Saturday, I thought I'd catch up on blogging and reflect on the year so far.
I got to have some fun times this year, trekking to Walker, MN for concerts by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and his solo band in May and to see popular rock bands Hinder and Saving Abel in September, which made a good beginning to my week-long vacation too. I was also fortunate enough to attend three Twins games at the brand-new Target Field this summer - I'll have to go back for more games next year so I can actually see the Twins win at the new ballpark! My old car gave me plenty of problems last winter, so buying a new one in January helped me get around, especially when I went to see Star Wars in Concert in July at the Xcel Energy Center and round out my concert season for the year at First Avenue in Minneapolis last month to see Sevendust, 10 Years, and My Darkest Days.
I also got to enjoy some quality time with family and friends this year, attending my cousin Jay's wedding in Tofte in August and my high school 20th reunion in Richmond that same month. Those get-togethers are always fun! I also caught up with my godparents in September as I saw them for the first time in 8 years when they drove to Richmond for Jay's family reception. I also got to see some friends and family in concert this year, as my friend Aaron and his band the Slack played at the ol' Side Bar in Cold Spring, and my cousin Libby and her jazz/pop/R&B accompaniment played a private fundraiser in the Legends Club in Target Field last month.
Unfortunately, I also said goodbye to some family and friends this year too - my old classmate Duane who lost a long battle with a brain tumor, my friend Aaron's mom (we were neighbors when I was very little), my great-aunt Liesl in Vienna, my uncle Bill's dad "Red" (who made it to the ripe old age of 103) and my Aunt Helen who bravely fought a tough but swift battle with terminal liver disease.
I've also had a tough time at times this year with a family member's struggle to battle with addiction, and work has been busy and stressful at times this year too. I try to make the best of it, and I think that the good times I've had this year has helped balance out the bad.
Well, that's all I have for now, so take care and happy holidays, everyone!!!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Aaron's Twin Cities Weekend: Happy, Sad, Happy
When I got home from work on the Friday night before Halloween, I found out that my Aunt Helen who was just diagnosed with terminal liver disease in September was getting worse - the pain medications she was on weren't helping much with the pain she was experiencing, so I figured she didn't have a lot of time left. Early the next morning, the call came in that Helen had passed away peacefully at home. Needless to say, my family and I weren't in the holiday mood, as we sat by the phone waiting to hear when the services in St. Paul would be.
Finally on Sunday night, we found out that Helen's funeral was going to be at St. Bernard's Church in St. Paul the following Saturday morning, the same church that my mom, Helen and their other sisters and brothers attended, walking across the street from their home on Woodbridge Street many years ago. I had already planned to attend the Sevendust concert at First Avenue in Minneapolis the night before, and my cousin Libby invited me to her singing gig in the Legends Club inside Target Field that Saturday night, so I knew it would be an eventful and emotional weekend.
After a busy week at work (which included a 4-hour stint as an usher at the Taste of Home Cooking Show at the St. Cloud Civic Center on Thursday night), I took last Friday off, and drove to the hotel in Bloomington where I'd be staying the next couple of nights. After taking some time to unpack, unwind, and have a quick snack, I left for downtown Minneapolis. I got to the parking ramp, getting out on the street by the Rod Carew statue outside Target Field.
I walked to my right, finding First Avenue just a few blocks away. I was waiting for traffic outside O'Donovan's Pub when I noticed a guy in dreadlocks and sporting a nose ring waiting to cross the street. Holy cows, I thought to myself, hey, that's Lajon from Sevendust! When he and a roadie crossed the road, I said hello. Lajon immediately walked up to me, said hello, and hoped I'd have a fun time at the show. I'd met the band a few years ago during their acoustic show at the Pantages Theatre just a few blocks from First Avenue, so I was pleased but not surprised by LJ's friendliness.
After a hearty supper at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe, I went back to First Avenue standing in line waiting for the doors to open. A little after 7pm, the doors finally opened, and I followed the crowd's rush to the stage. Remembering the advice of a friend who was just at First Avenue for a show a few weeks earlier, I perused the merchandise table and bought a Sevendust meet & greet lanyard, then found a stool on the top floor with a perfect view of the evening's action.
The show was sponsored by rock station 93X, as the concert was also the finals for their 2010 X-Girls competition. I got to see 11 lovely ladies take the stage (in my opinion, I thought last year's X-Girl was the best of the bunch) before the first band, My Darkest Days, took the stage. The band played a quick five-song set, ending with their radio hit "Porn Star Dancing" although they were a bit crowded in by the X-Girls who were grinding to the song.
After a set break, and the girls parading on stage in bikinis, the second opening act, 10 Years, took the stage. I was surprised how short lead singer Jesse Hasek was, and as he took the stage wearing his grey striped hoodie and ballcap, he reminded me of actor/Robot Chicken co-creator Seth Green. The band played seven songs from their last 3 albums, ending with their current single "Shoot It Out," but not before Hasek took a dive and surfed the crowd.
After another set break, the new X-Girl champion (Tayeler) was crowned, and then Sevendust hit the stage, with a blistering version of the song "Splinter," the first track from their new album Cold Day Memory. The band continued the heavy mood with hits "Denial," "Enemy" and "Waffle," "Suffocate," and other hits along with songs "Strong Arm Broken" and the new single "Forever" from the new CD.
In the middle of the set, the band brought the tempo down a notch, as guitarist Clint Lowery and frontman Lajon Witherspoon took out stools and an acoustic guitar to play the song "Xmas Day." This was then followed by a Sevendust favorite of mine "Angel's Song." I play this song off their great album Animosity every time someone I know has passed away, because the very first Sevendust concert I attended was the night that Lajon's brother was killed. Although the band could've understandably cancelled or postponed the show, they decided to go on, an abbreviated effort yet memorable nonetheless. As Clint and LJ sang this song at 1st Ave., I said a silent prayer to my Aunt Helen.
It was then time for Sevendust to start rocking again, as they transitioned from the acoustic "Angel's Son" to another favorite of mine, the throbbing, pulsing song "Black" from their self-titled debut. The energy continued at a fevered pace, as the band wound its way through the songs "Unraveling," Driven," "Pieces" and "Praise" before finishing the concert with the encore song "Face to Face."
About a half-hour after the show, I was talking with some people I'd met waiting in line for the doors to open. Everyone was excited about the show, talking animatedly until the band members showed up for the meet and greet. I enjoyed getting to talk with each one individually - I talked with guitarist John Connolly about concert venues, drummer Morgan Rose about baseball and how his beloved New York Yankees keep beating my Minnesota Twins in the playoffs, I thanked Clint Lowery for playing "Angel's Son," said hello again to Lajon who had remembered me from our brief meeting before the show. I was also humbled by bassist Vince Hornsby who insisted on hugging and sincerely thanking every fan in the room for attending the show. I can't think of too many other bands who are this accomodating, accessible and incredibly friendly to their fans, so this was a great night that I won't soon forget.
The following morning, I got up slowly, realizing I had to be at St. Bernard's Church by 11 a.m. I got there early and caught up with my Aunt Marianne and Uncle Felix, and got details on the evening's show from my cousin Libby and her husband Evans. I met up with my parents and brother during the funeral mass, and enjoyed my cousin Margie's thoughtful eulogy - I thought it represented her mom perfectly, as it talked about some of Helen's favorite things in life.
The weather for the funeral at Roselawn Cemetery was wonderful, and I enjoyed catching up later with Helen's kids at the reception on Rice Street, a street I've gone down many times over the years. Although the reception area wasn't clearly marked from the street, getting there was well worth it, as I soon found myself surrounded by family and some very nice photo boards honoring Helen. As I left to go back to the hotel and freshen up for Libby's performance that night, I knew that Auntie Helen was up there in heaven smiling down at us, probably alongside her husband Jack and son Mark, with their old dog Duke resting comfortably at their feet.
I got off to a late start, but eventually found the parking area at Target Field, and was soon on the elevator up to the Legends Club. I'd found out earlier in the week that Libby was singing for the Phillips Eye Institute Benefit, and it was a very posh affair, with a silent auction and VIP seating. For most of the night I sat at the merchandise table with Libby's husband Evans, taking in the music and good conversations. I took some time to wander the spacious event area, and even walked outside to admire Target Field all lit up at night.
The next morning, I took advantage of the Daylight Savings Time extra hour of sleep, and arrived home that afternoon, tired but happy. I got to hear a lot of great music, and spend quality time with family. Although it was a sad morning on Saturday, I think we were all glad that Helen wasn't suffering anymore, and was now at peace. I think I'm going to need this weekend to recover from last weekend!
Sevendust concert setlist:
Splinter
Denial
Enemy
Strong Arm Broken
Waffle
Suffocate
Forever
Xmas Day
Angel's Son
Black
Driven
Unraveling
Pieces
Praise
Encore: Face to Face
Finally on Sunday night, we found out that Helen's funeral was going to be at St. Bernard's Church in St. Paul the following Saturday morning, the same church that my mom, Helen and their other sisters and brothers attended, walking across the street from their home on Woodbridge Street many years ago. I had already planned to attend the Sevendust concert at First Avenue in Minneapolis the night before, and my cousin Libby invited me to her singing gig in the Legends Club inside Target Field that Saturday night, so I knew it would be an eventful and emotional weekend.
After a busy week at work (which included a 4-hour stint as an usher at the Taste of Home Cooking Show at the St. Cloud Civic Center on Thursday night), I took last Friday off, and drove to the hotel in Bloomington where I'd be staying the next couple of nights. After taking some time to unpack, unwind, and have a quick snack, I left for downtown Minneapolis. I got to the parking ramp, getting out on the street by the Rod Carew statue outside Target Field.
I walked to my right, finding First Avenue just a few blocks away. I was waiting for traffic outside O'Donovan's Pub when I noticed a guy in dreadlocks and sporting a nose ring waiting to cross the street. Holy cows, I thought to myself, hey, that's Lajon from Sevendust! When he and a roadie crossed the road, I said hello. Lajon immediately walked up to me, said hello, and hoped I'd have a fun time at the show. I'd met the band a few years ago during their acoustic show at the Pantages Theatre just a few blocks from First Avenue, so I was pleased but not surprised by LJ's friendliness.
After a hearty supper at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe, I went back to First Avenue standing in line waiting for the doors to open. A little after 7pm, the doors finally opened, and I followed the crowd's rush to the stage. Remembering the advice of a friend who was just at First Avenue for a show a few weeks earlier, I perused the merchandise table and bought a Sevendust meet & greet lanyard, then found a stool on the top floor with a perfect view of the evening's action.
The show was sponsored by rock station 93X, as the concert was also the finals for their 2010 X-Girls competition. I got to see 11 lovely ladies take the stage (in my opinion, I thought last year's X-Girl was the best of the bunch) before the first band, My Darkest Days, took the stage. The band played a quick five-song set, ending with their radio hit "Porn Star Dancing" although they were a bit crowded in by the X-Girls who were grinding to the song.
After a set break, and the girls parading on stage in bikinis, the second opening act, 10 Years, took the stage. I was surprised how short lead singer Jesse Hasek was, and as he took the stage wearing his grey striped hoodie and ballcap, he reminded me of actor/Robot Chicken co-creator Seth Green. The band played seven songs from their last 3 albums, ending with their current single "Shoot It Out," but not before Hasek took a dive and surfed the crowd.
After another set break, the new X-Girl champion (Tayeler) was crowned, and then Sevendust hit the stage, with a blistering version of the song "Splinter," the first track from their new album Cold Day Memory. The band continued the heavy mood with hits "Denial," "Enemy" and "Waffle," "Suffocate," and other hits along with songs "Strong Arm Broken" and the new single "Forever" from the new CD.
In the middle of the set, the band brought the tempo down a notch, as guitarist Clint Lowery and frontman Lajon Witherspoon took out stools and an acoustic guitar to play the song "Xmas Day." This was then followed by a Sevendust favorite of mine "Angel's Song." I play this song off their great album Animosity every time someone I know has passed away, because the very first Sevendust concert I attended was the night that Lajon's brother was killed. Although the band could've understandably cancelled or postponed the show, they decided to go on, an abbreviated effort yet memorable nonetheless. As Clint and LJ sang this song at 1st Ave., I said a silent prayer to my Aunt Helen.
It was then time for Sevendust to start rocking again, as they transitioned from the acoustic "Angel's Son" to another favorite of mine, the throbbing, pulsing song "Black" from their self-titled debut. The energy continued at a fevered pace, as the band wound its way through the songs "Unraveling," Driven," "Pieces" and "Praise" before finishing the concert with the encore song "Face to Face."
About a half-hour after the show, I was talking with some people I'd met waiting in line for the doors to open. Everyone was excited about the show, talking animatedly until the band members showed up for the meet and greet. I enjoyed getting to talk with each one individually - I talked with guitarist John Connolly about concert venues, drummer Morgan Rose about baseball and how his beloved New York Yankees keep beating my Minnesota Twins in the playoffs, I thanked Clint Lowery for playing "Angel's Son," said hello again to Lajon who had remembered me from our brief meeting before the show. I was also humbled by bassist Vince Hornsby who insisted on hugging and sincerely thanking every fan in the room for attending the show. I can't think of too many other bands who are this accomodating, accessible and incredibly friendly to their fans, so this was a great night that I won't soon forget.
The following morning, I got up slowly, realizing I had to be at St. Bernard's Church by 11 a.m. I got there early and caught up with my Aunt Marianne and Uncle Felix, and got details on the evening's show from my cousin Libby and her husband Evans. I met up with my parents and brother during the funeral mass, and enjoyed my cousin Margie's thoughtful eulogy - I thought it represented her mom perfectly, as it talked about some of Helen's favorite things in life.
The weather for the funeral at Roselawn Cemetery was wonderful, and I enjoyed catching up later with Helen's kids at the reception on Rice Street, a street I've gone down many times over the years. Although the reception area wasn't clearly marked from the street, getting there was well worth it, as I soon found myself surrounded by family and some very nice photo boards honoring Helen. As I left to go back to the hotel and freshen up for Libby's performance that night, I knew that Auntie Helen was up there in heaven smiling down at us, probably alongside her husband Jack and son Mark, with their old dog Duke resting comfortably at their feet.
I got off to a late start, but eventually found the parking area at Target Field, and was soon on the elevator up to the Legends Club. I'd found out earlier in the week that Libby was singing for the Phillips Eye Institute Benefit, and it was a very posh affair, with a silent auction and VIP seating. For most of the night I sat at the merchandise table with Libby's husband Evans, taking in the music and good conversations. I took some time to wander the spacious event area, and even walked outside to admire Target Field all lit up at night.
The next morning, I took advantage of the Daylight Savings Time extra hour of sleep, and arrived home that afternoon, tired but happy. I got to hear a lot of great music, and spend quality time with family. Although it was a sad morning on Saturday, I think we were all glad that Helen wasn't suffering anymore, and was now at peace. I think I'm going to need this weekend to recover from last weekend!
Sevendust concert setlist:
Splinter
Denial
Enemy
Strong Arm Broken
Waffle
Suffocate
Forever
Xmas Day
Angel's Son
Black
Driven
Unraveling
Pieces
Praise
Encore: Face to Face
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Minnesota Twins Post-Season Analysis
Well, another Minnesota Twins season came limping to a close Saturday night after another playoff series sweep by the dreaded Yankees. Although this is the Twins' 6th playoff appearance in the last 9 years, manager Ron Gardenhire's team has lost 12 consecutive playoff appearances. With that in mind, here's what I thought about their first year at Target Field:
What I liked:
1. Target Field - what a gorgeous new ballpark - first time we've had outdoor major league baseball in Minnesota since 1981!
2. The play of rookie 3B Danny Valencia - ever since an injury to glorified utilityman Nick Punto opened the spot at third, Valencia has been a pleasant surprise, hitting and fielding very well in his rookie year. It should be interesting to see next year how he handles a full season at the hot corner.
3. The improved play of LF Delmon Young - Delmon really improved his approach at the plate and has improved his outfield play. His three-run shot against the Braves on June 13th has been the only Twins homer I've seen in person at Target Field so far.
4. The power surges of DH Jim Thome - the veteran Thome crushed some balls late in the year, including a homer off a flagpole in right field that traveled an estimated 480 feet!
What I didn't like:
1. The lack of competitive swagger in the playoffs - once again, the Twins played like a team that was happy enough just to make the playoffs, and let the Yankees dominate them mentally. The team is really lacking the confidence of say Kirby Puckett in 1991, when he encouraged his teammates to "get on his back" during game 6 of the World Series that year.
2. Pitching inconsistency -the one complaint I really have against Gardenhire is that he leaves struggling pitchers in the game too long, something I saw on TV in the playoffs and in person at the three games I attended at Target Field this year.
3. The utter lack of emotion on the field by C Joe Mauer - heading into the first year of an eight-year, $184 million contract, Mauer needs to lead by example and get his pitchers and the rest of his teammates more invested in the games. He shows almost no emotion on the field, and you need to lead with your heart sometimes during games.
Overall, the season was a success, with over 3.2 million fans in the ballpark. I'm sure I'll go to a few more games at Target Field next year. Although I do think the team needs to spend more money and get an ace starting pitcher, a quality reserve corner infielder/outfielder (in case Justin Morneau's career at first base is over due to concussion), and dump a few lightweight players (Blackburn, Slowey, Harris and Punto immediately come to mind), I think they'll have another run for the AL Central Title next year. Go Twins!
What I liked:
1. Target Field - what a gorgeous new ballpark - first time we've had outdoor major league baseball in Minnesota since 1981!
2. The play of rookie 3B Danny Valencia - ever since an injury to glorified utilityman Nick Punto opened the spot at third, Valencia has been a pleasant surprise, hitting and fielding very well in his rookie year. It should be interesting to see next year how he handles a full season at the hot corner.
3. The improved play of LF Delmon Young - Delmon really improved his approach at the plate and has improved his outfield play. His three-run shot against the Braves on June 13th has been the only Twins homer I've seen in person at Target Field so far.
4. The power surges of DH Jim Thome - the veteran Thome crushed some balls late in the year, including a homer off a flagpole in right field that traveled an estimated 480 feet!
What I didn't like:
1. The lack of competitive swagger in the playoffs - once again, the Twins played like a team that was happy enough just to make the playoffs, and let the Yankees dominate them mentally. The team is really lacking the confidence of say Kirby Puckett in 1991, when he encouraged his teammates to "get on his back" during game 6 of the World Series that year.
2. Pitching inconsistency -the one complaint I really have against Gardenhire is that he leaves struggling pitchers in the game too long, something I saw on TV in the playoffs and in person at the three games I attended at Target Field this year.
3. The utter lack of emotion on the field by C Joe Mauer - heading into the first year of an eight-year, $184 million contract, Mauer needs to lead by example and get his pitchers and the rest of his teammates more invested in the games. He shows almost no emotion on the field, and you need to lead with your heart sometimes during games.
Overall, the season was a success, with over 3.2 million fans in the ballpark. I'm sure I'll go to a few more games at Target Field next year. Although I do think the team needs to spend more money and get an ace starting pitcher, a quality reserve corner infielder/outfielder (in case Justin Morneau's career at first base is over due to concussion), and dump a few lightweight players (Blackburn, Slowey, Harris and Punto immediately come to mind), I think they'll have another run for the AL Central Title next year. Go Twins!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Ok, so I'm finally getting back to blogging after a busy week at work - only 2 weeks ago at this time I was on my way to Walker to start my vacation week!
I was on my way to the casino for the Hinder/Saving Abel concert. When I drove into town, I noticed more traffic than usual - almost every parking spot in town was filled! After I checked into my hotel, I learned that they were having an ethnic festival that weekend, so I walked down and checked out some of the booths for a while until it was time for the first part of the concert to begin.
The opening act, Saving Abel, went onstage at about 4pm. Unlike previous concerts I'd been to at Northern Lights Casino, instead of the main events stage, this concert was held outside the casino in a large enclosed tent. Saving Abel played about a dozen songs from their first 2 albums, including songs off their current CD Miss America. Midway through their set, they brought out stools and acoustic guitars for a 3-song acoustic performance, including a cover of CCR's hit "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" and their current single "The Sex Is Good." Saving Abel closed their set with their breakthrough hit "So Addicted," and the crowd began to clear the tent area shortly afterwards.
After playing a few casino games, I grabbed a bite to eat on my way out, and then decided to head back to town, since it was only 6pm. I was hoping to experience more of the festival, but apparently it had closed down for the night, so I crashed at my hotel room until the concert headliner Hinder was scheduled to play about 8 pm - first concert I've ever been to where the performers play that many hours apart from each other.
The late September skies were getting dark as Hinder hit the stage. The five-piece rock band is releasing a new album called All-American Nightmare later this year, so they played four songs from that CD during the concert, including the title cut. The new songs were good, and seemed to be in the same musical vein as their previous 2 albums. The band ended their 2-song encore with their massive radio hit "Get Stoned." As I walked out of the tent with many other satisfied concert patrons, I realized it was only 10 o'clock! Plenty of time to grab a snack and catch the rain-delayed Twins game afterwards!
I woke up late Sunday morning and decided to explore the town. Unfortunately, the ethnic festival ended on Saturday, but I still had a good time walking around and enjoying the scenery at the park, where I also got some much-wanted time to do some writing and drawing, something I haven't had time to do in a long time. I enjoyed a hearty meal in town before retiring for the night to watch some NFL games.
Monday I spent the day in Bemidji, for the first time since I was a kid. Tuesday was spent in the Brainerd/Baxter area, and before I knew it, Wednesday rolled around and it was time to go home. If I was going to go home that day, at least I was glad the rainy weather didn't keep me from missing out on great scenery.
I spent Thursday and Friday relaxing, running some errands, and taking in a movie (George Clooney's latest film The American). Last Saturday I spent time with family at the community park in Richmond - my cousin Jay who just got married in Tofte last month was having a reception for friends & family. I enjoyed catching up with the couple and some old friends and relatives, including my old principal at Richmond Elementary and my godparents, who had driven up from Idaho Falls, Idaho for the occasion. I hadn't seen them since I flew out to their youngest daughter Roxanne's wedding in Salt Lake City, Utah about 8 years ago, so it was good to catch up with them and find out how my cousins out west were doing.
Last Sunday I got to watch the Vikings choke another game away while the Twins eked even closer to playoff contention. I also had a nice meal with the folks and my godparents. It was a good week - it was nice to get away from the daily grind for a while, but it really went by too fast!
I was on my way to the casino for the Hinder/Saving Abel concert. When I drove into town, I noticed more traffic than usual - almost every parking spot in town was filled! After I checked into my hotel, I learned that they were having an ethnic festival that weekend, so I walked down and checked out some of the booths for a while until it was time for the first part of the concert to begin.
The opening act, Saving Abel, went onstage at about 4pm. Unlike previous concerts I'd been to at Northern Lights Casino, instead of the main events stage, this concert was held outside the casino in a large enclosed tent. Saving Abel played about a dozen songs from their first 2 albums, including songs off their current CD Miss America. Midway through their set, they brought out stools and acoustic guitars for a 3-song acoustic performance, including a cover of CCR's hit "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" and their current single "The Sex Is Good." Saving Abel closed their set with their breakthrough hit "So Addicted," and the crowd began to clear the tent area shortly afterwards.
After playing a few casino games, I grabbed a bite to eat on my way out, and then decided to head back to town, since it was only 6pm. I was hoping to experience more of the festival, but apparently it had closed down for the night, so I crashed at my hotel room until the concert headliner Hinder was scheduled to play about 8 pm - first concert I've ever been to where the performers play that many hours apart from each other.
The late September skies were getting dark as Hinder hit the stage. The five-piece rock band is releasing a new album called All-American Nightmare later this year, so they played four songs from that CD during the concert, including the title cut. The new songs were good, and seemed to be in the same musical vein as their previous 2 albums. The band ended their 2-song encore with their massive radio hit "Get Stoned." As I walked out of the tent with many other satisfied concert patrons, I realized it was only 10 o'clock! Plenty of time to grab a snack and catch the rain-delayed Twins game afterwards!
I woke up late Sunday morning and decided to explore the town. Unfortunately, the ethnic festival ended on Saturday, but I still had a good time walking around and enjoying the scenery at the park, where I also got some much-wanted time to do some writing and drawing, something I haven't had time to do in a long time. I enjoyed a hearty meal in town before retiring for the night to watch some NFL games.
Monday I spent the day in Bemidji, for the first time since I was a kid. Tuesday was spent in the Brainerd/Baxter area, and before I knew it, Wednesday rolled around and it was time to go home. If I was going to go home that day, at least I was glad the rainy weather didn't keep me from missing out on great scenery.
I spent Thursday and Friday relaxing, running some errands, and taking in a movie (George Clooney's latest film The American). Last Saturday I spent time with family at the community park in Richmond - my cousin Jay who just got married in Tofte last month was having a reception for friends & family. I enjoyed catching up with the couple and some old friends and relatives, including my old principal at Richmond Elementary and my godparents, who had driven up from Idaho Falls, Idaho for the occasion. I hadn't seen them since I flew out to their youngest daughter Roxanne's wedding in Salt Lake City, Utah about 8 years ago, so it was good to catch up with them and find out how my cousins out west were doing.
Last Sunday I got to watch the Vikings choke another game away while the Twins eked even closer to playoff contention. I also had a nice meal with the folks and my godparents. It was a good week - it was nice to get away from the daily grind for a while, but it really went by too fast!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
CD Review - 7th Symphony by Apocalyptica
A few years ago, a coworker friend of mine brought to my attention a quartet of cellists from Finland who were playing all-cello covers of Metallica songs on YouTube. I learned that this band was called Apocalyptica and I later bought their CD of Metallica cover songs. On a vacation to Rochester, I picked up their 6th album and was impressed by their fusion of classic cello sounds with rock guitars, drums and vocals.
This week I picked up Apocalyptica's latest CD, 7th Symphony, and it seems like they've picked up right where they left off! I've been hearing the first single "End of Me" on the radio lately, and I have to say that while I enjoy the vocals by Gavin Rossdale of Bush, I know it's not the best song on the album. So far my favorite is the 3rd track "Not Strong Enough" featuring a strong performance by Brent Smith of Shinedown on vocals. The song was written by pop/rock songwriter Diane Warren (who penned Aerosmith's first #1 hit "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" and scores of other pop/rock hits), and I'd be surprised if this song doesn't become a hit single.
Keeping in tradition with their last album, 4 of the 10 tracks feature vocals, while the other 6 songs are instrumentals. Standout instrumental songs on this album include "2010," which features Dave Lombardo from Slayer on drums, "Beautiful," which feels like it would fit right in on a John Williams score, and "On The Rooftop with Quasimodo." If you're a fan of this group, or enjoy a good classical/rock "mashup," then I'd definitely recommend this album for you!
This week I picked up Apocalyptica's latest CD, 7th Symphony, and it seems like they've picked up right where they left off! I've been hearing the first single "End of Me" on the radio lately, and I have to say that while I enjoy the vocals by Gavin Rossdale of Bush, I know it's not the best song on the album. So far my favorite is the 3rd track "Not Strong Enough" featuring a strong performance by Brent Smith of Shinedown on vocals. The song was written by pop/rock songwriter Diane Warren (who penned Aerosmith's first #1 hit "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" and scores of other pop/rock hits), and I'd be surprised if this song doesn't become a hit single.
Keeping in tradition with their last album, 4 of the 10 tracks feature vocals, while the other 6 songs are instrumentals. Standout instrumental songs on this album include "2010," which features Dave Lombardo from Slayer on drums, "Beautiful," which feels like it would fit right in on a John Williams score, and "On The Rooftop with Quasimodo." If you're a fan of this group, or enjoy a good classical/rock "mashup," then I'd definitely recommend this album for you!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Highway 61 Re-Revisited
Last Saturday at this time, I was probably making my way through the road construction in Mora on my way to my cousin Jay's wedding in Tofte. I was remembering that the last time I was up that way was about 5 years ago, not long after my high school 15-year class reunion, when I spent a week in Duluth. That time I ventured as far north as Grand Marais. While I didn't make it quite that far this time, I did make the drive back on Highway 61 again (after even more construction in Duluth), and enjoyed a great weekend on Lake Superior with family and friends.
I got to my hotel in Schroder, about 5 minutes south of Tofte, about 2pm. When I learned my room wasn't ready yet, I trekked in to Tofte and had a nice relaxing lunch at the Bluefin Bay restaurant, taking in the scenic view. An hour later, I scampered back to the hotel to unpack and hastily change for the ceremony. I drove back to the restaurant, not really knowing where the ceremony was going to be held. Fortunately, I got directions at the same time that some of my cousin Jay's friends arrived, and we walked the short trail to the cove.
The ceremony was held on the cove at the Bluefin Resort, right on the shore of Lake Superior. The whole ceremony was over in about 15 minutes, and before I knew it, I was walking the steps back up to the resort to congratulate the new couple and converse with family and meet the bride's family & friends.
The reception was at the Surfside resort about a mile down the road, and I followed the crowd in the building before dinner began. Over a hearty steak dinner, I enjoyed some good conversations with Ann's relatives and my uncle, aunt and cousins. Jay's sister Katherine also put together a great slideshow of the couple too.
The conversations moved out to the patio, where we could enjoy a calm August night while the dinner hall was being converted to a dance floor. While I didn't know too many people at the reception besides my cousin, his family and my brother & his girlfriend, I had a good time getting to meet Ann and some of her friends, as well as some of the couple's friends & acquaintances.
After 11 pm, the party finally broke up and I drove back to my hotel, still amped up from the evening's energy to doze off right away. The next morning, I grabbed a quick breakfast, filled up and made the trek back home, already looking forward to the couple's get-together next month, because some of my family that weren't able to make the wedding will be attending this event.
I got to my hotel in Schroder, about 5 minutes south of Tofte, about 2pm. When I learned my room wasn't ready yet, I trekked in to Tofte and had a nice relaxing lunch at the Bluefin Bay restaurant, taking in the scenic view. An hour later, I scampered back to the hotel to unpack and hastily change for the ceremony. I drove back to the restaurant, not really knowing where the ceremony was going to be held. Fortunately, I got directions at the same time that some of my cousin Jay's friends arrived, and we walked the short trail to the cove.
The ceremony was held on the cove at the Bluefin Resort, right on the shore of Lake Superior. The whole ceremony was over in about 15 minutes, and before I knew it, I was walking the steps back up to the resort to congratulate the new couple and converse with family and meet the bride's family & friends.
The reception was at the Surfside resort about a mile down the road, and I followed the crowd in the building before dinner began. Over a hearty steak dinner, I enjoyed some good conversations with Ann's relatives and my uncle, aunt and cousins. Jay's sister Katherine also put together a great slideshow of the couple too.
The conversations moved out to the patio, where we could enjoy a calm August night while the dinner hall was being converted to a dance floor. While I didn't know too many people at the reception besides my cousin, his family and my brother & his girlfriend, I had a good time getting to meet Ann and some of her friends, as well as some of the couple's friends & acquaintances.
After 11 pm, the party finally broke up and I drove back to my hotel, still amped up from the evening's energy to doze off right away. The next morning, I grabbed a quick breakfast, filled up and made the trek back home, already looking forward to the couple's get-together next month, because some of my family that weren't able to make the wedding will be attending this event.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Where Did The Time Go?
I woke up last Sunday morning after very little sleep (I think I nodded off after 4 am) but with a big smile on my face after attending my class reunion the night before. I couldn't believe it had been 20 years since my high school classmates and I had graduated from ROCORI. Where did the time go?
I got to the party at River Station right on time at 7pm, and met a few classmates. Some of them gave me big hugs and wishes of thanks for putting our reunion in the Cold Spring Record & the St. Cloud Times, something I was glad to do anyway. After a few brief chats with my friends to catch up, we positioned ourselves at a table in the back so we could see and identify more classmates at the front door who came to join the party.
After 20 years, it's funny how some of my friends look just like I remember them. While some of us have lost weight and/or hair or gained a few love handles, for the most part, we really haven't changed a bit! It's also funny how some friends look totally different. In fact, I didn't even know some of them had attended the party until a bunch of us were talking in the wee hours of Sunday morning. One of them wasn't even our classmate - the spouse of the ROCORI baseball coach showed up in his stead, and I had to remark how much he'd grown (he's kinda short)! We also had our old sociology teacher show up and say hi to everyone. He's also the father of one of my classmates, so I wasn't too surprised to see him there and was glad to talk to him too.
I stayed at the party until closing time, enjoying the conversations and laughs with the old classmates. About 20 classmates and their spouses had also gone to a golf scramble at River Oaks that afternoon, something I never thought of doing on a muggy August day. Outside the River Station, some of us gathered as lightning struck and small drops of rain fell. Most of us left weren't ready to finish partying, however, so we gathered at another classmate's house just a few blocks away. There we enjoyed refreshments and good conversation, moving outside when the garage became too muggy.
The party finally broke up about 3:30 in the morning. As I drove home that early Sunday morning, I kept thinking back to the conversations, laughs and hugs I had shared with classmates at the reunion. While I didn't get to talk to all my classmates who attended, I did talk to most of my old friends, and I really enjoyed catching up with them and reveling in stories of bad behavior in our elementary, junior high and high school years. The reunion was my highlight of the weekend, and it made me feel that the toils of the daily grind were all worth it. I'm already looking forward to more good times at our 25th reunion!
I got to the party at River Station right on time at 7pm, and met a few classmates. Some of them gave me big hugs and wishes of thanks for putting our reunion in the Cold Spring Record & the St. Cloud Times, something I was glad to do anyway. After a few brief chats with my friends to catch up, we positioned ourselves at a table in the back so we could see and identify more classmates at the front door who came to join the party.
After 20 years, it's funny how some of my friends look just like I remember them. While some of us have lost weight and/or hair or gained a few love handles, for the most part, we really haven't changed a bit! It's also funny how some friends look totally different. In fact, I didn't even know some of them had attended the party until a bunch of us were talking in the wee hours of Sunday morning. One of them wasn't even our classmate - the spouse of the ROCORI baseball coach showed up in his stead, and I had to remark how much he'd grown (he's kinda short)! We also had our old sociology teacher show up and say hi to everyone. He's also the father of one of my classmates, so I wasn't too surprised to see him there and was glad to talk to him too.
I stayed at the party until closing time, enjoying the conversations and laughs with the old classmates. About 20 classmates and their spouses had also gone to a golf scramble at River Oaks that afternoon, something I never thought of doing on a muggy August day. Outside the River Station, some of us gathered as lightning struck and small drops of rain fell. Most of us left weren't ready to finish partying, however, so we gathered at another classmate's house just a few blocks away. There we enjoyed refreshments and good conversation, moving outside when the garage became too muggy.
The party finally broke up about 3:30 in the morning. As I drove home that early Sunday morning, I kept thinking back to the conversations, laughs and hugs I had shared with classmates at the reunion. While I didn't get to talk to all my classmates who attended, I did talk to most of my old friends, and I really enjoyed catching up with them and reveling in stories of bad behavior in our elementary, junior high and high school years. The reunion was my highlight of the weekend, and it made me feel that the toils of the daily grind were all worth it. I'm already looking forward to more good times at our 25th reunion!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Star Wars In Concert: Impressive. Most Impressive!
I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a huge Star Wars fan. I've been hooked on George Lucas' science-fiction saga ever since 1980. I remember that Christmas I received my first Star Wars action figures: the Wookiee named Chewbacca, a small, green Jedi Master named Yoda, and a golden droid named C-3PO. In my childhood, I probably had about 50 Star Wars action figures, my cousin Paul's hand-me-down TIE Fighter and Han Solo blaster pistol, and used to pore over the Marvel Star Wars comics in great detail. Although I have seen the prequel movies several times over, and admit there are good sequences in each of them, in my mind they still pale to the original trilogy that I grew to love as a kid. Of course, a big part of the Star Wars movies is the music. I remember getting chills listening to the Imperial March when I saw The Empire Strikes Back for the first time as a kid, and although my music collection is mostly filled with rock (and some comedy), I also have a few of my favorite John Williams compositions too.
When I learned that Star Wars In Concert was coming to St. Paul, and that Mr. C-3PO himself, Anthony Daniels, would be narrating the show, I decided I had to go to this show! I promised myself I wouldn't pay the top tier ticket price unless I got a premium seat - fortunately, I scored a seat in the left corner of the first row on the floor!
I took the drive last Sunday morning to St. Paul, heading down the same Rice Street I'd traveled down many times growing up to see my relatives on my way to the show. After parking in a nearby ramp and enjoying a tasty lunch at the Eagle Street Grille, I wandered over to the Xcel Energy Center for the first time, patiently waiting in line for the gates to open.
At 1:30 p.m., the gates opened, and myself and the rest of the non-VIP crowd sauntered in. We were greeted to the sights of several authentic props and matte paintings from the Star Wars films. I stopped to pore over the Darth Vader, C-3PO, and Ewok costumes, and stare at the Han Solo in carbonite displays before the sight of stormtroopers walking behind me caught my eye. I walked further around the arena, admiring the storm troopers, TIE fighter pilots, a remote-controlled R2-D2 and Jango Fett before pausing to take a photo with Darth Vader. I admit I let my inner child get the best of me at that time, but you have to give me a little slack here- I mean, it's Darth FRIGGIN' Vader, one of the best movie villains of all time! I then stopped again as Boba Fett posed for a photo for me before deciding to head into the arena for the show.
I took the drive last Sunday morning to St. Paul, heading down the same Rice Street I'd traveled down many times growing up to see my relatives on my way to the show. After parking in a nearby ramp and enjoying a tasty lunch at the Eagle Street Grille, I wandered over to the Xcel Energy Center for the first time, patiently waiting in line for the gates to open.
At 1:30 p.m., the gates opened, and myself and the rest of the non-VIP crowd sauntered in. We were greeted to the sights of several authentic props and matte paintings from the Star Wars films. I stopped to pore over the Darth Vader, C-3PO, and Ewok costumes, and stare at the Han Solo in carbonite displays before the sight of stormtroopers walking behind me caught my eye. I walked further around the arena, admiring the storm troopers, TIE fighter pilots, a remote-controlled R2-D2 and Jango Fett before pausing to take a photo with Darth Vader. I admit I let my inner child get the best of me at that time, but you have to give me a little slack here- I mean, it's Darth FRIGGIN' Vader, one of the best movie villains of all time! I then stopped again as Boba Fett posed for a photo for me before deciding to head into the arena for the show.
I walked down the rows of seats to find my chair on the left corner of the first row, atop several black plywood planks covering the hockey arena floor. For several minutes, all I could hear around me were people talking and the background Star Wars sounds of pod racers, Wookiee growls, and the snap-hiss of lightsabers as the crowd and orchestra members began to fill in the Xcel Energy Center. Soon, the lights dimmed, and the 20th Century Fox theme began to play - a roar erupted from the crowd, as we all new what would be happening next!
After a raucous rendition of A New Hope's opening theme, the voice of James Earl Jones introduced our emcee, Mr. Anthony Daniels. I was ecstatic - I was sitting about 8 feet away from C-3PO himself! Daniels did a great job narrating the show, as the first half took us from the old Republic to the rise of the Galactic Empire. He even slipped into his old C-3PO character a couple of times, particularly during the Han Solo/Millenium Falcon section, where he reminded the audience that the "odds of successfuly navigating an asteriod field were 3,720 to 1."
Throughout the show, I focused my energy on listening to the amazing music, watching the film clips on the 100-foot LED screen behind the musicians, and watching the conductor, Daniels, and the musicians themselves. As the first half ended with the Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme), I felt very lucky to be watching this memorable performance.
After a 20-minute intermission, the show resumed, as Daniels took the audience on a journey from the birth of the Rebellion to the final defeat of the Empire at Endor. At different times during the show, the camera operator to the left of me deftly navigated the remote camera on a boom over the stage so that we could see the different musicians in the ensemble. While it did briefly obstruct my view at times, I liked getting to see the different artists perform their parts to perfection, from the violinists, french horn players and cellists, to the xylophonist and even the woman playing the triangle, who got a rousing cheer during the encore's performance of the Imperial March. Daniels, the conductor and the orchestra received a couple of well-deserved standing ovations after the encore.
Sunday afternoon's show was sold-out, and everyone I saw leaving the show had huge smiles on their faces. This was a terrific performance of classical music, and I think it had plenty of things for people of all ages to enjoy. I'm optimistic that this show will come out on DVD for those who missed this show and people who want to re-live this show to enjoy. If you missed out on this show, or yearn to hear the music again, many of the songs from this show are on the bonus DVD of the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith soundtrack, narrated by Ian McDiarmid, who played Senator-turned-Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious in several of the Star Wars movies.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Taking in Target Field
I've been a Twins fan for about 25 years now, although it's been a while since I've been to a Twins game. I think the last time I was at the Dome for a ballgame, Kirby Puckett was still playing. My brother and his friend are season ticket holders to Twins games, so when the opportunity arose for me to buy a few games from them, I jumped at the chance. My first game at the brand-new Target Field was this past Sunday, and even though we lost to the Atlanta Braves 7-3, I enjoyed the experience.
I invited my dad to the game as an early birthday/Father's day present, and as we looked at the light rail schedule, we realized that this was one of 12 games where we could take a bus from St. Cloud to the Big Lake light rail station, so we took advantage of the cheap ride which got us to the light rail station in plenty of time. Attendants at the light rail station were very helpful, and after buying a family roundtrip pass for the day, we boarded the train and were on our way!
After a quick trip on the train, we were soon at the Target Field light rail terminal. Dad and I followed the crowd upstairs to gate 6, where we had our tickets scanned and finally entered the ballpark. We had a ways to walk because our seats in section 103 were on the opposite side of the stadium, but were just in time to hear the day's starting lineup. When we got to our seats, I was amazed how close we were to the field. We were in row 7, in prime foul ball territory!
Unfortunately for the fans, Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey dug himself a hole in the first inning, and the Braves had scored 4 runs before the Twins even got to bat. I was looking forward to seeing Braves rookie right fielder Jason Heyward play, because he's been dubbed the next Hank Aaron. Heyward didn't disappoint, as he had 2 hits on the day, scoring the first run on a broken-bat double to right.
Every Braves player except left fielder Melky Cabrera had a hit on Sunday, and after Slowey had allowed solo homers to Braves second baseman Martin Prado and first baseman Troy Glaus, Slowey was done for the night. I was surprised Twins manager Ron Gardenhire used so many reserves in his starting lineup, because shortstop Trevor Plouffe, third baseman Brendan Harris, catcher Drew Butera and second baseman Nick Punto were all hitting under .225. These "heavy hitters" went a combined 0-for-13 on the day with a walk and a fielding error.
It was a tough day on the field for the Twins, as they could only muster four hits off Braves starter Kris Medlen. If it wasn't for left fielder Delmon Young's three-run homer in the seventh, the Twins would've been shut out.
Right before the bottom of the ninth, Dad and I made our way up the stairs of our section to catch the end of the game from the standing area by gate 29 in right field, and then decided to circle back around to gate 6 to beat the crowd leaving the stadium.
It turned out to be a long day, but even though the home team lost, I still had a good time. I got to see my first interleague game, see Joe Mauer bat and get a hit for the first time, and experienced my first major league game in an outdoor stadium. I'm coming back for games next month against the Rays and White Sox, so I'm hoping for a win and a healthy lineup on the field next time. If you haven't been to Target Field yet, I would highly recommend it, although take some time to soak it all in first, because it's easy to get caught up in your surroundings. Play ball!
I invited my dad to the game as an early birthday/Father's day present, and as we looked at the light rail schedule, we realized that this was one of 12 games where we could take a bus from St. Cloud to the Big Lake light rail station, so we took advantage of the cheap ride which got us to the light rail station in plenty of time. Attendants at the light rail station were very helpful, and after buying a family roundtrip pass for the day, we boarded the train and were on our way!
After a quick trip on the train, we were soon at the Target Field light rail terminal. Dad and I followed the crowd upstairs to gate 6, where we had our tickets scanned and finally entered the ballpark. We had a ways to walk because our seats in section 103 were on the opposite side of the stadium, but were just in time to hear the day's starting lineup. When we got to our seats, I was amazed how close we were to the field. We were in row 7, in prime foul ball territory!
Unfortunately for the fans, Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey dug himself a hole in the first inning, and the Braves had scored 4 runs before the Twins even got to bat. I was looking forward to seeing Braves rookie right fielder Jason Heyward play, because he's been dubbed the next Hank Aaron. Heyward didn't disappoint, as he had 2 hits on the day, scoring the first run on a broken-bat double to right.
Every Braves player except left fielder Melky Cabrera had a hit on Sunday, and after Slowey had allowed solo homers to Braves second baseman Martin Prado and first baseman Troy Glaus, Slowey was done for the night. I was surprised Twins manager Ron Gardenhire used so many reserves in his starting lineup, because shortstop Trevor Plouffe, third baseman Brendan Harris, catcher Drew Butera and second baseman Nick Punto were all hitting under .225. These "heavy hitters" went a combined 0-for-13 on the day with a walk and a fielding error.
It was a tough day on the field for the Twins, as they could only muster four hits off Braves starter Kris Medlen. If it wasn't for left fielder Delmon Young's three-run homer in the seventh, the Twins would've been shut out.
Right before the bottom of the ninth, Dad and I made our way up the stairs of our section to catch the end of the game from the standing area by gate 29 in right field, and then decided to circle back around to gate 6 to beat the crowd leaving the stadium.
It turned out to be a long day, but even though the home team lost, I still had a good time. I got to see my first interleague game, see Joe Mauer bat and get a hit for the first time, and experienced my first major league game in an outdoor stadium. I'm coming back for games next month against the Rays and White Sox, so I'm hoping for a win and a healthy lineup on the field next time. If you haven't been to Target Field yet, I would highly recommend it, although take some time to soak it all in first, because it's easy to get caught up in your surroundings. Play ball!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Slash in concert
As a huge rock n' roll fan, there are certain guitarists that define generations for me. For the 60's, it's Jimi Hendrix. For the 70's, it's Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. For the 80's and 90's, it's Slash. While I've never gotten to see Slash play in Guns N' Roses or any of his other bands, I was fortunate to catch him with his latest band touring for his new solo CD last night at Northern Lights Casino in Walker, MN.
On his new CD, Slash has a bevy of guest artists, ranging from Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy Kilmeister of Motorhead to Ian Astbury of the Cult and even Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas. One guest on two songs on the album is also the singer on Slash's tour, namely Myles Kennedy from the band Alter Bridge. Myles did a great job of channeling Axl Rose on Guns N' Roses classics like "Civil War," "Night Train," "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City." The band also played the songs "Back From Cali," "Ghost," "Starlight" and the current single "By The Sword" from Slash's new album. Myles even strapped on a guitar as he led the band in playing the Alter Bridge song "Rise Today."
While the other touring musicians (who you probably won't recognize unless you've seen them as part of tour bands for Green Day, Alice Cooper and other bands) were great and brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the show, they pale in comparison to lead guitarist Slash. During one song in the middle of the show, Slash's right hand was moving so fast playing his guitar that it almost seemed like a blur. I stood silently in awe in the second row, realizing I was watching one of the best guitarists in rock today. Fans cheered loudly as he played his familiar solos on songs like "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Civil War" and the Velvet Revolver single "Slither." I was impressed by his strong solo performance in the second half of the show which morphed into a great band instrumental cover of the "Godfather" movie theme, before leading into Slash's often-imitated, but never duplicated into to "Sweet Child O' Mine."
For the first show on their summer tour, I have to say that Slash and his band did a great job - they covered songs from pretty much all of Slash's career, from Guns N' Roses and Slash's Snakepit, to Velvet Revolver and the latest CD. Just another great concert experience at Northern Lights Casino in Walker!
On his new CD, Slash has a bevy of guest artists, ranging from Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy Kilmeister of Motorhead to Ian Astbury of the Cult and even Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas. One guest on two songs on the album is also the singer on Slash's tour, namely Myles Kennedy from the band Alter Bridge. Myles did a great job of channeling Axl Rose on Guns N' Roses classics like "Civil War," "Night Train," "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City." The band also played the songs "Back From Cali," "Ghost," "Starlight" and the current single "By The Sword" from Slash's new album. Myles even strapped on a guitar as he led the band in playing the Alter Bridge song "Rise Today."
While the other touring musicians (who you probably won't recognize unless you've seen them as part of tour bands for Green Day, Alice Cooper and other bands) were great and brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the show, they pale in comparison to lead guitarist Slash. During one song in the middle of the show, Slash's right hand was moving so fast playing his guitar that it almost seemed like a blur. I stood silently in awe in the second row, realizing I was watching one of the best guitarists in rock today. Fans cheered loudly as he played his familiar solos on songs like "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Civil War" and the Velvet Revolver single "Slither." I was impressed by his strong solo performance in the second half of the show which morphed into a great band instrumental cover of the "Godfather" movie theme, before leading into Slash's often-imitated, but never duplicated into to "Sweet Child O' Mine."
For the first show on their summer tour, I have to say that Slash and his band did a great job - they covered songs from pretty much all of Slash's career, from Guns N' Roses and Slash's Snakepit, to Velvet Revolver and the latest CD. Just another great concert experience at Northern Lights Casino in Walker!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
People whose 15 minutes of fame are over
I think we all know Andy Warhol's famous quote about everyone being famous for at least 15 minutes. With that in mind, here's a few "celebrities" who I think need to disappear from the public limelight:
1. Heidi Montag and pretty much any other reality show "celebrity." I use the term "celebrity" here very loosely, because I feel that anyone whose sole motivation in life is to flaunt the fact that they should be famous because they were on a reality TV show really needs to rethink their focus in life.
2. Elizabeth Hasselbeck - another former reality show "celebrity" who parlayed her stint on "Survivor" into a hosting gig on "The View," a show which I think was best portrayed in the "Family Guy" cutaway scene where all the hosts were shown as clucking chickens.
3. Jon & Kate from "Jon & Kate plus 8." I get really tired of hearing about this dysfunctional family. I think they should really focus on their 8 kids than being in the public limelight.
4. "Bombshell" McGee and any of the alleged mistresses of Jesse James, Tiger Woods, and any other celebrities. Does anyone really care what these attention-starved people think?
Those are all the ones that immediately come to mind. If any others come to mind, I'll be sure to add them to this list. Feel free to let me know who you think should be added to this list too. Thanks & have a great weekend!
1. Heidi Montag and pretty much any other reality show "celebrity." I use the term "celebrity" here very loosely, because I feel that anyone whose sole motivation in life is to flaunt the fact that they should be famous because they were on a reality TV show really needs to rethink their focus in life.
2. Elizabeth Hasselbeck - another former reality show "celebrity" who parlayed her stint on "Survivor" into a hosting gig on "The View," a show which I think was best portrayed in the "Family Guy" cutaway scene where all the hosts were shown as clucking chickens.
3. Jon & Kate from "Jon & Kate plus 8." I get really tired of hearing about this dysfunctional family. I think they should really focus on their 8 kids than being in the public limelight.
4. "Bombshell" McGee and any of the alleged mistresses of Jesse James, Tiger Woods, and any other celebrities. Does anyone really care what these attention-starved people think?
Those are all the ones that immediately come to mind. If any others come to mind, I'll be sure to add them to this list. Feel free to let me know who you think should be added to this list too. Thanks & have a great weekend!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Dude, Where's My Country?
Okay, I admit I ripped off the title for this blog from a Michael Moore book, but I thought this line best described the way I feel about a few things that have been going on in this country lately. Here's my rant - keep in mind that this is just my opinion!
- I can't believe the death threats on South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone weren't taken as seriously as they should have been, right after the radical Muslim group threatened them if they dared to show Mohammed on their show. What they fail to realize is that Mohammed was already shown in a 2001 episode, to little or no public outcry. They also don't realize that South Park is an "equal opportunity offender" - they rip on people of many different religions (Catholicism, Judaism, Scientology - anyone remember the "Trapped In The Closet" episode?) and idealisms. I'm a South Park fan, and while I don't agree with everything they say, I take it for what it is - a cartoon satire. It gives me a few laughs in the middle of the week, and then I forget about it until the next episode. If something offends you that deeply, then acknowledge that you don't have to watch or support it. We do have a First Amendment right to free speech and free expression, and I feel that Comedy Central's censoring of this week's episode seriously violated this free speech right. It seems like we get too worried about being politically correct and not wanting to offend anybody that we end up offending MORE people.
- OK, I'm a little biased here after watching the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" but it seems more and more like we're forgoing common sense for the furthering of big business' profit margins. The documentary I just watched details the efforts by GM, Big Oil, and CA government to first produce and then destroy the electric car industry, all because they were a threat to profits! I see this trend repeating in our current economy - we bail out big businesses, and how do some of these big banks repay their customers? Be cutting services, raising fees, and making it more difficult to do business with them. I hear reports about banks that were bailed out with millions of taxpayer dollars who reward their employees with lavish bonuses while raising customers' interest rates and cutting credit limits, and it just makes me want to scream. Whatever happened to treating customers with dignity and respect? Doesn't the value of customer loyalty mean anything anymore? (OK, I admit this one peeves me a bit, as I got a letter this month from one credit card taken over by a new bank that suddenly decided to reduce the credit limit drastically. I don't use the card much, but now I have even less reason to use it!) Update: I resolved the issue with my credit card company, and got the limit restored, but it had to take a Better Business Bureau complaint to get anything done.
- There's been a lot of discussion lately about immigration, especially with Arizona's new law that passed this week. I understand we're a nation of immigrants (my family has a lot of German/Austrian heritage, and my Grandpa Haider emigrated to MN in the 1920's), and I know I've been blessed to have so many ethnic backgrounds in my family. On the other hand, I see the drain on our economic, health, and education systems that our ever-increasing population growth is having on our country. I have no problem with people wanting to emigrate to our country as long as they:
1. do it legally (which includes tips like educating yourself, and taking the citizenship test),
2. learn and adhere to the laws and customs of the country you're emigrating to, and finally
3. learn the language of your new country.
I think about the situation this way: if I was going to move to Germany, I would take the time to learn the language, laws and customs before even thinking of making the move. I would NEVER expect to just move to a new country and expect everything to be handed to me! Sorry to say this, but it seems like I keep about hearing about more and more people who want handouts - life isn't given to us on a silver platter, we have to work hard for the just rewards.
- I still don't understand the uproar over why certain people are vehemently against gay marriage and/or civil unions. It doesn't matter to me if gay people want to get married, and I don't think it's really anyone else's business either. I have a few gay friends and relatives, and if they want to get married, I'd support their decision 100 percent. While I don't understand the same sex attraction, I don't think that gay or lesbian couples getting married isn't going to harm the so-called "sanctity" of marriage.
Ok, that's all I can rant about for now - sorry, but I just had to vent! I'm an American citizen born and raised, and it really irks me sometimes how the ideals of integrity and honesty that I grew up with feel like they're being eroded sometimes. It really makes me question the focus of this nation that I still love and its leaders.
Take care, and enjoy this nice weekend, everyone!
- I can't believe the death threats on South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone weren't taken as seriously as they should have been, right after the radical Muslim group threatened them if they dared to show Mohammed on their show. What they fail to realize is that Mohammed was already shown in a 2001 episode, to little or no public outcry. They also don't realize that South Park is an "equal opportunity offender" - they rip on people of many different religions (Catholicism, Judaism, Scientology - anyone remember the "Trapped In The Closet" episode?) and idealisms. I'm a South Park fan, and while I don't agree with everything they say, I take it for what it is - a cartoon satire. It gives me a few laughs in the middle of the week, and then I forget about it until the next episode. If something offends you that deeply, then acknowledge that you don't have to watch or support it. We do have a First Amendment right to free speech and free expression, and I feel that Comedy Central's censoring of this week's episode seriously violated this free speech right. It seems like we get too worried about being politically correct and not wanting to offend anybody that we end up offending MORE people.
- OK, I'm a little biased here after watching the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" but it seems more and more like we're forgoing common sense for the furthering of big business' profit margins. The documentary I just watched details the efforts by GM, Big Oil, and CA government to first produce and then destroy the electric car industry, all because they were a threat to profits! I see this trend repeating in our current economy - we bail out big businesses, and how do some of these big banks repay their customers? Be cutting services, raising fees, and making it more difficult to do business with them. I hear reports about banks that were bailed out with millions of taxpayer dollars who reward their employees with lavish bonuses while raising customers' interest rates and cutting credit limits, and it just makes me want to scream. Whatever happened to treating customers with dignity and respect? Doesn't the value of customer loyalty mean anything anymore? (OK, I admit this one peeves me a bit, as I got a letter this month from one credit card taken over by a new bank that suddenly decided to reduce the credit limit drastically. I don't use the card much, but now I have even less reason to use it!) Update: I resolved the issue with my credit card company, and got the limit restored, but it had to take a Better Business Bureau complaint to get anything done.
- There's been a lot of discussion lately about immigration, especially with Arizona's new law that passed this week. I understand we're a nation of immigrants (my family has a lot of German/Austrian heritage, and my Grandpa Haider emigrated to MN in the 1920's), and I know I've been blessed to have so many ethnic backgrounds in my family. On the other hand, I see the drain on our economic, health, and education systems that our ever-increasing population growth is having on our country. I have no problem with people wanting to emigrate to our country as long as they:
1. do it legally (which includes tips like educating yourself, and taking the citizenship test),
2. learn and adhere to the laws and customs of the country you're emigrating to, and finally
3. learn the language of your new country.
I think about the situation this way: if I was going to move to Germany, I would take the time to learn the language, laws and customs before even thinking of making the move. I would NEVER expect to just move to a new country and expect everything to be handed to me! Sorry to say this, but it seems like I keep about hearing about more and more people who want handouts - life isn't given to us on a silver platter, we have to work hard for the just rewards.
- I still don't understand the uproar over why certain people are vehemently against gay marriage and/or civil unions. It doesn't matter to me if gay people want to get married, and I don't think it's really anyone else's business either. I have a few gay friends and relatives, and if they want to get married, I'd support their decision 100 percent. While I don't understand the same sex attraction, I don't think that gay or lesbian couples getting married isn't going to harm the so-called "sanctity" of marriage.
Ok, that's all I can rant about for now - sorry, but I just had to vent! I'm an American citizen born and raised, and it really irks me sometimes how the ideals of integrity and honesty that I grew up with feel like they're being eroded sometimes. It really makes me question the focus of this nation that I still love and its leaders.
Take care, and enjoy this nice weekend, everyone!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
CD Review - Cold Day Memory by Sevendust
I've been a Sevendust fan for almost a decade now, so I was happy to receive their eighth studio album, Cold Day Memory, in the mail this weekend. I'd only heard the first single "Unraveling" three times on the radio, and I thought that if the rest of this album was anything like this awesome single, I'd be in for a treat. Turns out I would not be disappointed!
The CD begins with the heavy track "Splinter." A great song full of layered guitar, some terrific lead vocals by Lajon Witherspoon, and the customary backup growls/vocals by drummer Morgan Rose. I soon had the chorus from the next track "Forever" stuck in my head - I think we've all known a "selfish condescending" person that we've wished would "go play God in someone else's life." The third track "Unraveling" has been one of Sevendust's best received singles ever, and it's one that I keep hitting "repeat" on my CD player to enjoy more and more. It's a very catchy single, one that you can't help cranking up the volume for on your car stereo as soon as the pounding guitar and drums begin the song.
This album marked the return of original guitarist Clint Lowery to the band after a five year absence. All the band members were involved in the production of this album, and it was terrific to hear Clint's crunchy guitars and vocals (which are a bit darker and deeper than his previous efforts) in the mix.
The limited-edition of this CD also includes an interesting 50-minute long "making-of" the album mini-documentary. It's worth a view - I liked the fact that they focused on each member of the band as they recorded the album in a converted warehouse in Chicago, plus the fact that they continued their reputation as one of the hardest-working rock bands in the business by continuing to tour while in the middle of recording this record.
If you're a Sevendust fan, or just a fan of hard rock, I'd recommend picking this album up. It's a great group effort, and ranks up there with "Animosity" and "Hope and Sorrow" as one of Sevendust's best albums ever.
Recommended Tracks: "Splinter," "Forever," "Unraveling," "Last Breath," "Ride Insane" & "Strong Arm Broken."
The CD begins with the heavy track "Splinter." A great song full of layered guitar, some terrific lead vocals by Lajon Witherspoon, and the customary backup growls/vocals by drummer Morgan Rose. I soon had the chorus from the next track "Forever" stuck in my head - I think we've all known a "selfish condescending" person that we've wished would "go play God in someone else's life." The third track "Unraveling" has been one of Sevendust's best received singles ever, and it's one that I keep hitting "repeat" on my CD player to enjoy more and more. It's a very catchy single, one that you can't help cranking up the volume for on your car stereo as soon as the pounding guitar and drums begin the song.
This album marked the return of original guitarist Clint Lowery to the band after a five year absence. All the band members were involved in the production of this album, and it was terrific to hear Clint's crunchy guitars and vocals (which are a bit darker and deeper than his previous efforts) in the mix.
The limited-edition of this CD also includes an interesting 50-minute long "making-of" the album mini-documentary. It's worth a view - I liked the fact that they focused on each member of the band as they recorded the album in a converted warehouse in Chicago, plus the fact that they continued their reputation as one of the hardest-working rock bands in the business by continuing to tour while in the middle of recording this record.
If you're a Sevendust fan, or just a fan of hard rock, I'd recommend picking this album up. It's a great group effort, and ranks up there with "Animosity" and "Hope and Sorrow" as one of Sevendust's best albums ever.
Recommended Tracks: "Splinter," "Forever," "Unraveling," "Last Breath," "Ride Insane" & "Strong Arm Broken."
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Gone Too Soon
Earlier today, I attended a memorial service for a classmate of mine who lost a long, arduous battle with a brain tumor. I had first heard of my friend Duane's cancer last year, and the last time I saw him was at a well-attended benefit back in October. While we weren't close friends, I was glad to donate to such a worthy cause.
The memorial was very well-done, and I think hardly anyone wasn't choked up at one time or another during it. It also made me think of my old ad director JR and my uncles Jack and Ray, two other recent casualties to cancer. Cancer really is a nasty damn disease - it affects the lives of so many of us, and it doesn't discriminate by age, sex or race.
I think another classmate died in a farm accident in Wyoming or Montana several years back, so Duane was only the 2nd classmate who had passed away in our class of over 160. With our 20-year high school reunion coming up this summer, I know that plenty of us will be thinking of our lost classmate. I'm sure he'll be there with us in spirit, though, smiling down at us from heaven.
Duane was only 38 when he died, a few months older than me. Thinking about this fact over the weekend made me realize how precious life is, and how it can be taken away at any moment. 38's too young to die of a brain tumor in my opinion, but like I said before: cancer doesn't discriminate. Take some time to enjoy the company of your loved ones this Easter weekend - I know I will too. Until later, take care and be well!
The memorial was very well-done, and I think hardly anyone wasn't choked up at one time or another during it. It also made me think of my old ad director JR and my uncles Jack and Ray, two other recent casualties to cancer. Cancer really is a nasty damn disease - it affects the lives of so many of us, and it doesn't discriminate by age, sex or race.
I think another classmate died in a farm accident in Wyoming or Montana several years back, so Duane was only the 2nd classmate who had passed away in our class of over 160. With our 20-year high school reunion coming up this summer, I know that plenty of us will be thinking of our lost classmate. I'm sure he'll be there with us in spirit, though, smiling down at us from heaven.
Duane was only 38 when he died, a few months older than me. Thinking about this fact over the weekend made me realize how precious life is, and how it can be taken away at any moment. 38's too young to die of a brain tumor in my opinion, but like I said before: cancer doesn't discriminate. Take some time to enjoy the company of your loved ones this Easter weekend - I know I will too. Until later, take care and be well!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Bucky's Favorite Cartoons
As I watched the 14th season premiere of South Park this week (I would've been surprised if they HADN'T spoofed Tiger Woods in that episode), I realized I've been watching animated cartoons for a long time. With that in mind, here's an alphabetical list of my all-time favorites:
Beavis and Butthead - this show was on MTV when I was in college. Although the drawing style seems kinda crude, the characters and their insults to each other stick in your head. I can still mimic Beavis and Butthead's voices! In my opinion, this is Mike Judge's best animated series.
Family Guy - it took me a while to warm up to this show, and their jokes are sometimes hit or miss, I still enjoy this show. Brian the dog and Stewie are perfect foils for each other, and I love the cut-away gags that are spoofs of science fiction or 80's shows. I have to admire them for coming back after being cancelled twice, too. (I also like the spinoff The Cleveland Show, but have never been a big American Dad fan.)
Futurama - a sometimes forgotten show from Simpsons creator Matt Groening. I love John DiMaggio's portrayal of Bender, the robot with an attitude. Glad to hear it's coming back.
Peanuts - I watched the specials all the time as a kid, and I think I even had some of the book club books that adapted these specials. I remember watching the one where Snoopy ran away from home on a Mother's Day evening, a day that I probably ruined for Mom by getting the stomach flu right before church!
Popeye - probably my favorite cartoon of all-time. I learned a lot about drawing from watching these cartoons. The color cartooons from the 1950's and 1960's were on the most when I was a kid, but seeing a black and white Popeye adventure from the 1930's would occasionally come on TV, which I thought was a rare treat. I used to draw all of the main characters as a kid, and I can still draw the spinach-eating sailor and some of the other characters from memory all these years later.
Rocky and Bullwinkle - this show was on all the time as a kid. I loved the serial stories that you could watch in the morning before school and again after you got home. I was kinda bummed out when I first learned that there is no actual town called Frostbite Falls in Minnesota, though! I also loved the Fractured Fairy Tales and the exploits of Sherman and Peabody and Dudley Do-Right.
The Simpsons - hard to believe this show's been on for over 20 years. While I like episodes from probably their first 10-15 years or so the best, the current episodes are still worth watching.
South Park - definitely my favorite cartoon as an adult. I love how they satirize current events and people, and often grossly exaggerate situations. Eric Cartman is the ultimate rotten kid. What other show would feature a talking piece of poo (Mr. Hankey) as a supporting character? I'd still like to see another episode that focuses on Timmy, though.
Underdog - another serial type cartoon that was on all the time as a kid. I think it was rare for Underdog not to say something that wasn't a rhyme. Loved hearing the late Don Adams (best known as Maxwell Smart in the sitcom Get Smart) as the scheming Tennessee Tuxedo during these shows too.
Beavis and Butthead - this show was on MTV when I was in college. Although the drawing style seems kinda crude, the characters and their insults to each other stick in your head. I can still mimic Beavis and Butthead's voices! In my opinion, this is Mike Judge's best animated series.
Family Guy - it took me a while to warm up to this show, and their jokes are sometimes hit or miss, I still enjoy this show. Brian the dog and Stewie are perfect foils for each other, and I love the cut-away gags that are spoofs of science fiction or 80's shows. I have to admire them for coming back after being cancelled twice, too. (I also like the spinoff The Cleveland Show, but have never been a big American Dad fan.)
Futurama - a sometimes forgotten show from Simpsons creator Matt Groening. I love John DiMaggio's portrayal of Bender, the robot with an attitude. Glad to hear it's coming back.
Peanuts - I watched the specials all the time as a kid, and I think I even had some of the book club books that adapted these specials. I remember watching the one where Snoopy ran away from home on a Mother's Day evening, a day that I probably ruined for Mom by getting the stomach flu right before church!
Popeye - probably my favorite cartoon of all-time. I learned a lot about drawing from watching these cartoons. The color cartooons from the 1950's and 1960's were on the most when I was a kid, but seeing a black and white Popeye adventure from the 1930's would occasionally come on TV, which I thought was a rare treat. I used to draw all of the main characters as a kid, and I can still draw the spinach-eating sailor and some of the other characters from memory all these years later.
Rocky and Bullwinkle - this show was on all the time as a kid. I loved the serial stories that you could watch in the morning before school and again after you got home. I was kinda bummed out when I first learned that there is no actual town called Frostbite Falls in Minnesota, though! I also loved the Fractured Fairy Tales and the exploits of Sherman and Peabody and Dudley Do-Right.
The Simpsons - hard to believe this show's been on for over 20 years. While I like episodes from probably their first 10-15 years or so the best, the current episodes are still worth watching.
South Park - definitely my favorite cartoon as an adult. I love how they satirize current events and people, and often grossly exaggerate situations. Eric Cartman is the ultimate rotten kid. What other show would feature a talking piece of poo (Mr. Hankey) as a supporting character? I'd still like to see another episode that focuses on Timmy, though.
Underdog - another serial type cartoon that was on all the time as a kid. I think it was rare for Underdog not to say something that wasn't a rhyme. Loved hearing the late Don Adams (best known as Maxwell Smart in the sitcom Get Smart) as the scheming Tennessee Tuxedo during these shows too.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
CD Review - Valleys of Neptune by Jimi Hendrix
Hi there,
Sorry it's taken me so long to post - sometimes this blog is like my Twitter account, in that I really take it for granted and forget that it's there.
I just picked up the new Hendrix album Valleys of Neptune, and I have to admit that I'm surprised there was still unreleased material in the Hendrix vault - I thought his family had already posthumously released all of his B-sides, rare tracks and other previously unavailable live recordings years ago.
Some of the songs are songs you've probably heard before, but these are new arrangements. I have enjoyed the fresh takes on classics like "Stone Free," "Hear My Train A Comin'" and a nice extended instrumental cut of Cream's classic "Sunshine of Your Love."
The title track is probably the best of the new songs on this album, and will probably stick in your head after a few listens. The version I bought at Target also has two great bonus instrumental songs "Slow Version" and "Trash Man" (plus if you buy this album and any other Hendrix album at Target this week, they give you a $5 gift card for your next purchase).
Sorry it's taken me so long to post - sometimes this blog is like my Twitter account, in that I really take it for granted and forget that it's there.
I just picked up the new Hendrix album Valleys of Neptune, and I have to admit that I'm surprised there was still unreleased material in the Hendrix vault - I thought his family had already posthumously released all of his B-sides, rare tracks and other previously unavailable live recordings years ago.
Some of the songs are songs you've probably heard before, but these are new arrangements. I have enjoyed the fresh takes on classics like "Stone Free," "Hear My Train A Comin'" and a nice extended instrumental cut of Cream's classic "Sunshine of Your Love."
The title track is probably the best of the new songs on this album, and will probably stick in your head after a few listens. The version I bought at Target also has two great bonus instrumental songs "Slow Version" and "Trash Man" (plus if you buy this album and any other Hendrix album at Target this week, they give you a $5 gift card for your next purchase).
Saturday, January 30, 2010
What the Favre???
Last Sunday night on one of the Cities' 5pm newscasts, there was an interview with the pastor of a church that temporarily changed their name from "All Saints" to "All Vikings" in honor of that day's NFC Championship game in New Orleans, that pitted our Vikings against the Saints. The reporter remarked at the end of the story that he didn't wear a purple vestment, because in the church, the color purple equaled suffering. Well, after last week's heart-breaking overtime loss, I think a lot of us diehard Viking fans are suffering plenty.
I don't normally expect us to have 5 turnovers in a game and still come out victorious, but we had plenty of chances to win. Now I hear that the NFL admitted that a penalty should've been called on a Sains player who laid a hit on Brett Favre in the 3rd quarter that would've given us the ball at the 19-yard line - so does that mean we get to replay the game now? (Wishful thinking, I know!)
After the Vikings 5th NFC Championship loss since 1978, I understand why some Vikings fans feel just like Chicago Cubs fans - we just can't seem to win the big game, no matter what personnel we have on the field. The last time I felt this disappointed by the Vikes was the '98 NFC Championship game agains the Falcons at the Metrodome - Denny Green never should've taken a knee as time ran out in regulation.
I probably won't watch the Pro Bowl this weekend (I think that having this exhibition game the week before the Super Bowl is a dumb idea), but at least there's always next year (which could be the year, I hope)!
I don't normally expect us to have 5 turnovers in a game and still come out victorious, but we had plenty of chances to win. Now I hear that the NFL admitted that a penalty should've been called on a Sains player who laid a hit on Brett Favre in the 3rd quarter that would've given us the ball at the 19-yard line - so does that mean we get to replay the game now? (Wishful thinking, I know!)
After the Vikings 5th NFC Championship loss since 1978, I understand why some Vikings fans feel just like Chicago Cubs fans - we just can't seem to win the big game, no matter what personnel we have on the field. The last time I felt this disappointed by the Vikes was the '98 NFC Championship game agains the Falcons at the Metrodome - Denny Green never should've taken a knee as time ran out in regulation.
I probably won't watch the Pro Bowl this weekend (I think that having this exhibition game the week before the Super Bowl is a dumb idea), but at least there's always next year (which could be the year, I hope)!
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