July 29, 2009

It Never Hurts Till The Next Day


Fair warning... a venting is a-coming... any ostriches can scroll down to the Hank Williams at the end of the post. Why Hank Williams? Why the fuck not? He had the good sense to check out in style. We should all be so lucky.

Between the angel of death hanging over my company, and major expenses coming up, is it any wonder that more and more of my spending is going towards "sundries". The missus gives me that accusational stare as I walk in every night. My response... "stop! it's a given that imma commin' in that way"

Can't even bother shaving anymore... and the beard is coming in greyer than Michael Jackson's rapidly decomposing skin. I wanna shave my head and get a bitchin' tattoo... but the wife sez I won't look good with a shaved head... and the ink would be a bad example for the kiddies.

Last week we played a gig. I showed up all on the nod. Then we started playing and I went bat-shit. Finished up by smashing my bass. It didn't break. I also cracked a bone in my hand sliding on concrete a couple of weeks back at the McCartney show. Didn't hurt till the next day... of course, IT NEVER HURTS TILL THE NEXT DAY.

Here's another good idea... spend a wadload of cash on renovations when the financial future looks less than rosy. The Catch-22 being that if we don't do it, than we won't be able to sell the casa should my job goes ass up. So, we have to spend what we don't have so that we can protect ourselves when we don't have money. Or something.

But at least we have "More To Love". It's a "reality" show about a fat guy that has to choose "his true love" from 20 fat women. Plenty of tears (sample statement: "I've never been on a date wah wah wah boo hoo") from the hens (well, maybe weighing 270 pounds and being 5 foot 2 inches tall is preventing a social life, honey) and sappy music. Yes I am addicted. I pissed myself laughing (as did Nazz junior and Mrs. Nomad... we do not suffer fools gladly).

I want to create a show called "LOVE IS BLIND". In it, a blind guy would have to choose between 20 beastially ugly women. Of course, he wouldn't know they were ugly. That way, America could laugh at the handicapped AND at the unglamourous. It's a guaranteed top tenner!

Oh yeah, the big contro is that we have a percentage of lunatics that claim Obama isn't a natural born American and as a result, should not be President. It's not that offensive to me that we have shitheads spewing untrue crap like this... what gets me is that every fucking media outlet is airing these douchebag's staements on a daily basis.

Elvis was a fucking genius, when he didn't like the program, he shot the TV.

We need another big celebrity death. Soon. I nominate Bono. Than the media can camp out for three days and see if he rises. Put a big fucking boulder in front of his crypt and see what happens.

Or something.
Toonage:

July 28, 2009

Nutted By Reality


The dreams are getting so real and detailed that there are often times in which I am not sure that my memories are genuine or not. Walking down the street, it's like I am invisible. No one takes notice, not even the bums. To completely disappear, who, aside from the immediate family, would be aware? How long would it take for friends to realize I was gone?

The waking hours are spent fighting sleep, and the sleeping hours are spent fighting awareness.

Strange days indeed.




Toonage:

July 22, 2009

Youth Will Be Served


The princess and I attended the Warped Tour at it's local stop over the weekend. Note how I did NOT say that we attended it together. I was dumped at the gate. The princess is 15 years old now and feels she does not need her old man to cramp her style.

Of course, she DID need her old man to gain her entry, as I was granted a couple of press passes, gaining me access to said festival. So, she hung out with me long enough to get a press pass, and off she went, with the vague promise of texting me occasionally. She was supposed to be meeting another 15 year old friend, whom we knew,; but instead she scampered off with a 19 year old girl (thank the lord), who was wearing a bikini top and tattoos.

In other words, she bullshitted daddy-o. I'm so proud. She did stay out of trouble, and did check in periodically. And stayed away from the weed and alcohol (and boy! scenes) Plus, her press access got up her close and personal to some bands she dug, as she was able to sidle up to the stages in the photo pit and take pix and even interview some bands. Her faves? Bayside, Meg & Dia, and a whole host of bands that I could be the father of.
This is Meg, of Meg & Dia. Or it's Dia, of Meg & Dia
(photo courtesy of princess nomad)


Meanwhile old Nazz repaired to the beer tent (pretty empty, due to the youthful demographic), venturing out to see his faves like NOFX and Bad Religion and avoiding the scream-o bands whenever possible.

My favorite foursome of the Warped Tour

Yep, Warped Tour is a party for the young (like the princess), not the crusty old punk crew (like myself.

Punk rawk has sure changed since we invented it!

Toonage:
Minutemen - Party With Me Punker
Meg & Dia - Setting Up Sunday (live 3/23/07)
NOFX - Fungus/I'm A Huge Fan Of Bad Religion
Bad Religion - Latch Key Kids

July 20, 2009

Yeah Yeah Yeah



We went to see Paul McCartney's show last Friday as he popped the concert cherry at Citifield. Paid $20 for $70 nosebleed tix, found free parking, packed a couple of 6 packs of really cheap beer ($6 for a 12 pack!)and found a tailgate party. Rock n Roll. Or something.

A little creepy to be there... so many Beatle freaks (usually in the disguise of middle aged men and women), but a demographic of 7 to 70 years old.

So what if the tailgaters thought I was a homeless guy (I had my punk rock threads on).

The first third of the show featured alot of new stuff (he opened with the crappy Beatles tune (and advert) "Drive My Car") and the only other Beatles song he played towards the beginning was "Got To Get You Into My Life (the video screen showed the images from the soon to come "Rock Band video game" - way to milk that money Paulie!). He played "Jet" from his Wings era- cool.


There was a lame tribute song to John, and played a nice version of "Something" on ukelele to George (no tribute to Ringo... unless of course he played "Drive My Car" for him!).

Paulie told some stories (that way he could catch his breath too)!.

And considerately, he backed the schmaltzy "Long and Winding Road" with "My Love", which provided a perfect time to hit the bathroom and the beer lines!

There were a couple of nice chestnuts: "I Got A Feeling", "Let Me Roll It", "I'm Down".

The "money shots" came later: "Hey Jude", "Let It Be", "Helter Skelter", "Live And Let Die" (with fireworks).

And the encores were perfect: "Day Tripper", "Yesterday", "Helter Skelter" etc.

A couple of notes...

1) Hey he's Paul McCartney... he can play anything he wants; but the first 1/2 of the show bogged down somewhat.

2) Sometimes it's better to get cheap seats... it rained for a long while, but because we were so high up, we were under the roof and stayed dry! Ha ha on tthe wet, weaalthy folks!

3) Why doesn't Paul have grey hair? I want the name of his hair colorist!

4) Paul did NOT play alot of bass... seemed that he played much more guitar (both acoustic and electric).

5) The last tune: "The End" was worth the price of admission alone!
6) Every song was a big sing -a-long.
7) They had bases marked off where the orginal Shea Stadium basefield field was. It was on concrete, so of course I had to slide into home!!!!!

He's Safe!

The setlist:

“Drive My Car”
“Jet”
“Only Mama Knows”
“Flaming Pie”
“Got To Get You Into My Life”
“Let Me Roll It”
“Highway”
“The Long and Winding Road”
“My Love”
“Blackbird”
“Here Today”
“Dance Tonight”
“Calico Skies”
“Mrs. Vanderbilt”
“Eleanor Rigby”
“Sing the Changes ”
“Band on the Run”
“Back in the U.S.S.R.”
“I’m Down”
“Something”
“I’ve Got a Feeling”
“Paperback Writer”
“A Day in the Life”/”Give Peace a Chance”
“Let It Be”
“Live and Let Die"
“Hey Jude”

Encores
“Day Tripper”
“Lady Madonna”
“I Saw Her Standing There (with Billy Joel)
“Yesterday”
“Helter Skelter”
“Get Back”
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)”/”The End"

July 13, 2009

Money (That's What I Want)


Imma kinda ruminatin' on whether I should attend one of the Paul McCartney shows at Citifield this week.

It would be the first concerts at the New York Mets new home.

On the one hand, it could be pretty cool to be at a quasi-historical event. And it could be cool to see Beatle Paul.

On the other, weightier hand; I saw "Sir Paul" back in the early 90's from great seats in an arena. Do I really need to sit in a giant stadium and watch a video screen? Additionally, the nosebleed tix are about $60 and appreciate steeply the closer one gets to ground level.
I'm gonna keep perusing the broker sites and ebay; if I can score a couple of tix for $20 each, I'll grab em. We'll plant ourselves up high, get hammered and have a good old time, if the price is right. The next day, we're going to the Warped Tour, where for $30 or so we'll be able to see 60 bands (and, I like NOFX a helluva lot more than the Beatles!).
I guess the "see him before he's dead" concept will lure many folks to the show, as well as the "first show ever" pitch. It'll be an event for sure, but I sorta hate events.
We'll see........

Besides, didn't Paul die back in 1966?



Meanwhile, back at the ranch, here's some stuff from a long time ago...
Toonage:

July 9, 2009

Cheap Trick Rocks


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The missus was feelin' a might down yesterday. So, after work, we did the 15 minute drive to the beach (a trip that we do not take nearly enough). Figured, the sea air, the sand and some of these would put a smile back on her face.
Which it did.
But not as much as discovering that the amphitheatere in the distance was featuring one of those odd combo-bands nites. Cheap Trick, Poison and Def Leppard.

CHEAP TRICK!!!!!!!!!!

Somehow, the winds were right and we had perfect audio clarity for the music.
The crime of course was that Cheap Trick was the opener, instead of the closer. But that worked out nicely for us, as we enjoyed (did I mention the perfect audio clarity???) a nice set of classic American Power-Pop featuring just about everything that you and I would want to hear (except they didn't play "He's A Whore"). Plus they did a sweet take on the Beatles "A Day In The Life".
And the beer ran out just as Poison was taking the stage. Which worked out fine, since Poison is effing awful (and sounded it) and this gave us a perfect excuse to vacate the beach and head for sudsier pastures.
Here's a great performance from the late 70's:






Toonage:

July 6, 2009

Amerikkka's Sweetheart


Me loves me some Sarah Palin! She's stepping down from her Governor-Ship to "help America" or some other crap.

I am personally hoping she does a girl on girl vid with this skinny, soul-less, evil skank.

So, we get to look forward to the next couple of years of Palin's "punditry". No doubt, by the end of the summer she'll have her own show on Fox News (you know - the "fair and balanced" station); and then of course, the 2012 Presidential run.

Bottom line is; if Obama can pull off what he's trying to do (and I pray he can), Jesus H Christ himself couldn't win for the Repugnikkkans in 2012.

To keep with this "patriotic" theme, a couple of days late and a dollar short, here's a "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" selection for the Fourth Of July. Or something.

Toonage:

July 1, 2009

Summertime Booze


We have one of those extended "vacations" due to the economy. You know, the kind in which you get to take the days off, but they don't pay ya!

So the next few days will be spent playing loud shitty rock n roll, drinking beer and lazing about the pool.
Or, I can paint the living room and the kitchen, as I promised.
Screw that!

After all, if you're not wasted, than the day is!

I heartily recommend checking out the following tunes. Just trust your pal Nazz on this one!

Toonage: