Mostly Semantics

Months ago, before this blog existed (at least outside of our minds), MBG, CV and I were discussing what the lineups would be for our dream concerts. Rules being:

1. Bands must still exist (No original Clash)
2. Bands must actually still tour (No Led Zepplin, at least at the time of this original discussion)
3. Lineup must be feasible in terms of each spot (Your opener must be an obvious opener and your headliner must be an obvious headliner; e.g. you can’t have the Arcade Fire opening for Radiohead opening for U2).

(more…)

Random thoughts from my two days in Vegas so far:

• Service people here are friendly. I mean really friendly. To the extent that they’re apologetic when they don’t need to be. I understand it’s because they know the size of their tip is dependent upon it and if they keep you happy you’re more likely to come back (to them, their employer and/or Vegas in general), but it’s still shocking sometimes when you’re used to average or worse assistance and attitude from people in those positions.

• Salon haircuts might not be worth their price, but they’re damn nicer than the cheap ones I usually get. After convention stuff today I got a trim at the salon here at the hotel and it was about four times the price of my usual cut. However, it was the most professional and best combo of quickness and quality that I’ve ever had. I don’t think I could pay that price once a month, but it might be worth splurging every now and then.

• I don’t know who’s in charge of the music at the MGM Grand, but it’s an odd mix. I’ve heard Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones and The Who right along side Cracker (”Sweet Potato”, not even “Low”), Hot Hot Heat and We Are Scientists (the last of which played during my haircut and was the most surprising of all).

• The coolest thing I’ve seen so far here, at least in terms of mind-blowingness, is Panasonic’s 150-inch HD plasma TV. It’s not ready for the market yet and there’s no chance I could afford it, but someday my current 56-incher will be relegated to kitchen status.

When I moved to DC at the beginning of last year I was pretty immediately shocked at the frequency with which live music I wanted to see came through town. One of the things that really impressed me was that I was going to see the Hold Steady like one month after I moved there - at the time, they weren’t really coming through the midwest (or not within like 800 miles of me, anyway.) I loved the first two albums and had scarcely ever been more excited for a show. So of course imagine my disappointment when the dude at the front door informed me that they had played the night before.

Actually, I’m amazed that’s the only time that’s happened to me. Regardless, that anticipation has basically maintained itself since then, even though I don’t really listen to them much anymore and, more threateningly, I didn’t *love* the album they released in the meantime. When I saw that they were going to be playing with Art Brut, I made the (unusual for me) move unilaterally and bought tix for MS, TM and myself (No CV to lean on for this review.) Before the review proper though, in honor of CV, the d-bag of the concert: (more…)

Sunday night TM, MS, CV, MBG and I all trekked to Baltimore to see the Pipettes at Sonar. CV has the review, but I have a story. See, on our hunt for parking, I found myself in familiar territory: the Baltimore impound lot. One of ‘em, anyway. I’ve been meaning to post about this for months… (more…)

Just the way you love it. Obvs.

So by no means were we going to let our little halloween meltdown (most popular post ever!) shake us off our neverending parade of concerts - oh no, we have tickets purchased much too far in advance for that. Novemberween be damned, we had Thermals tickets for the Black Cat Saturday night, and go we would. (more…)