How Does It Feel ?

Mark David Chapman & Nathan Gale.

anyone who has ever loved the music of John Lennon and/or Dimebag Darrell of Pantera gets chills down their spine upon seeing or hearing those names.

on Monday December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman waited outside The Dakota, Lennon's apartment and took the life of John Winston Ono Lennon, just 40 years old, after a night at the recording studio basking in the glow of his comeback, his first album in 5 years, Double Fantasy. Howard Cosell broke the news with .03 seconds left of the Patriots/Dolphins Monday Night Football game. The world went into shock and disbelief. The one question, summed up by that famous poster held by a fan in Central Park, asks what we all still try to figure out. WHY?

O.A.R. has a song on their '05 studio album Stories Of A Stranger called "Dakota" the song claims "outside Dakota died the symphony" and asks a question that has stayed with me ever since i heard it "If you just kept walking on your way?" My god, what if? What if Lennon was like so many celebrities and just kept walking, and ignored MDC, what if he didnt stop and sign that autograph earlier or if he had used the back door way into Dakota instead of the front, would the symphony still play. I think so. Lennon was 1/4 of the biggest god damn band in the history of man kind, Changed the world in 8 years, then had a prolific solo carrer, hit rock bottom in the mid 70s, came back and got clean, and walked away from it all, to raise his son, Sean and virtually remained unseen until his 1980 comeback, Lennon was back in a big way, writing some of his greatest songs ever. And no sooner than he came back, he was gone. The world robbed of a songwriter, great guitarist, humanitarian and beacon for Peace. I have enjoyed Lennon's music for the longest time and will continue to do so. How can you not?

Wednesday December 8, 2004 in Columbus OH, Dimebag Darrell former guitarist and founding member of the LAST heavy metal band worth a damn, Pantera was playing a gig with his new group Damageplan, with brother Vinnie Paul who was Pantera's drummer as well. Dimebag was a Guitar Hero in every sense of the word. The music spoke to thousands of kids, whether they were social outcasts, or just enjoyed the head banging, thrashing sound of Pantera with the underlying message that you can do anything, dont back down, be yourself etc. Dime was the first to sign an autograph and the guy who made sure every last one was signed. Gave to countless charities and was this big larger than life cartoon that lived for music and for the simple joy of living, he embodied everything about rock & roll that was genuine and pure. He never lost the zeal for music that fans maintain. He had KISS stickers on his guitar and even had Ace Frehley's face and autograph tattooed onto his chest (pretty much declaring Ace his personal god, Dime and brother Vinnie would put on KISS makeup and strum brooms and play air drums, finally they got real instruments and learned to play them. oh boy did they learn how to play them. They would save lunch money so they could buy every poster, album and stitch of KISS paraphanalia there was. Before going on stage, every single night, he would look at his brother and go "VAN HALEN" and they'd hit the stage. Minutes into the first song, Nathan Gale robbed the world of the last guitar hero and a great man, 2 shots point blank to the head, Dimebag Darrell was dead. As I write this and everytime i put Pantera on, i cant believe it. Dime not only is dead but has been gone 5 years. Never forgot the full body chills i got when my buddy came running up to me those early hours at school the next morning exclaiming Dimebag is Dead! I couldnt believe it but damn sure, there was the print out from KNAC.com. I was numb. It just doesnt seem possible or right. Though we were far too young to go alone, his 2nd to last show was in Buffalo NY.

See your heroes while you can, guys like Lennon & Dime come along once in a lifetime.

Jackie Greene (KNOW THIS NAME and explore his works, in my eyes he should be selling out stadiums) & Phil Lesh doing New Speedway Boogie (Rothbury, MI 2009) a tune written about Altamont.


trailer for Gimme Shelter. When people ask if I like scary movies i tell them i enjoy Young Frankenstine but Gimme Shelter is a real life horror.


Cincinnati '79

God, December is a dark month for rock and roll. 12/8 marks the sensless slayings of two great visionaries, Dimebag Darrell and John Lennon (more on them later in the week) but any true classic rock junkie knows and gets chills when someone says 12/3/79 and 12/6/69. Two of music's darkest hours

12/6/69. The Rolling Stones, CSN, Grateful Dead, Santana, Flying Burrito Brothers and Jefferson Airplane were scheduled to play a free concert in San Francisco, despite two failed attempts in securing other sites (maybe it was a sign?) Altamont Motor Speedway was chosen. It was supposed to be a Woodstock of the West and upwards of 300,000 kids attended. If Monterey Pop was the conception of the Woodstock Generation and they breathed their first breaths on Yasgur's Farm over 3 days in August '69, surely Altamont was gonna be the baptism. Facts are: Grateful Dead never played. Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane was knocked out by Hells Angels aka security with sawed off pool cues and an 18 year old boy was stabbed to death while 3 others lost their lives in accidental deaths. beyond that, it depends on who you wanna believe. The Hells Angels were hired by the Stones to serve as security and keep 300,000 kids in line. They were allegedly paid with $500 worth of beer, and told to sit on or near the stage and keep order, which included driving their bikes through the crowd as a means of barricades.

Accounts say that almost from the start, this didnt feel like those 3 days in August in Bethel NY. It just didnt seem right from the start. After the Angels started beating a man with pool cues during Airplane's set, Balin jumped into his defense and got beaten as well, Santana's drummer tipped off Jerry & Phil of the Grateful Dead and they high tailed outta there, leaving a restless crowd waiting for the Stones, Stones started into their 3rd song, Sympathy For The Devil "something funny always happens when we start that number" claims Jagger. 18 yr old Meredith Hunter wanted to get onto the stage (MISTAKE #1 the stage was at eye level as opposed to the much higher Woodsttock stage) and pushed his way up with other fans. Hunter can be seen in the documentary Gimme Shelter reaching for a gun (Hunter was cooked on amphetamines) and an Angel brandished a dagger, fatally stabbing Hunter. The news shook music fans and concertgoers alike. How could someone die at a concert. the ultimate celebration of life and music. Within 24 months. The Beatles would be broken up, Janis, Hendrix and Morrison would be in the ground. Cream, CCR, Airplane, The Doors all had their best days behind them or had broken up. It was over.

Maybe it was for the best. It couldnt have lasted. A force that big that came along just couldnt go on forever. What started as an underground counterculture movement that came with experementation and freeing one's mind turned into an excuse to get blackout drunk and stoned off hard drugs like acid, pills and cocaine, drugs that transformed people into monsters, mindless zombies. It became about saying you were at the party than being there because you wanted to be there or felt you belonged. Musically it was revolutionary but something that big, just couldnt last. Longevity is grand but some dont need 40 years to say what they need to say. Cream, CCR, The Doors, Hendrix, Janis all did it in 4 years (1967-71) and Beatles spoke their piece in 8 years time, even the mighty Led Zeppelin lasted only a decade. Music has gone through fads and trends, now and forever will be, but sooner or later, people have to take what they learned from it, spin it into their own new creation and move forward.

12/3/79. Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH. Some readers know where im going with this.

The Who were set to play a short US tour that winter, a bitter cold night to boot. The Kids Are Alright, but god damn they wanna have their eardrums blown to kingdom come by Townsend, Daltrey and Entwistle. The band arrived late and demanded a closed soundcheck. almost the entire arena was setup for festival seating, code for whoever gets their first. Of nearly 19,000 tickets (all of which cost $10 each) 14,000 were for the GA floor. SOOO, cold weather, kids waiting to see their heroes, almost no assigned seats and the earsplitting sounds of soundcheck, leading some kids to believe they were missing the concert. Only a couple of the possible doors that should have been opened were, creating a bottleneck effect, huge amount of people all stampeding to get in the doors. The fallen victims were: Walter H. Adams Jr., 22, Trotwood, Ohio, Peter D. Bowes, 18, Wyoming, Connie S. Burns, 21, Miamisburg, Jacqueline L. Eckerle, 15, Finneytown, David J. Heck, 19, Highland Heights, Teva R. Ladd, 27, Newtown, Karen L. Morrison, 15, Finneytown, Stephen M. Preston, 19, Finneytown, Phillip K. Snyder, 20, Franklin Township, Bryan J. Wagner, 17, Fort Thomas, James T. Warmoth, 21, Franklin Township. The Who were informed of something awful but were told to play on, fearing a riot if they didnt.

Now i have been to a lot of shows, seen a lotta shit, and i could imagine that this was standard procedure. At my old rusty age of 22, i could give a damn about being close. I been in the front row for some smaller shows in college gyms and small clubs but they arent all they are cracked up to be. I would rather be in the back, where you got some room to breath than in the front. Darien Lake PAC for example has a lawn that can fit probably at least 10,000 people. in my younger days we would make a beeline for the center of the lawn, right up on the fence, only to worry about shitheads who were pissing, puking, fighting or falling into you. These days its way in the back or off to the sides. I dont need to be 5 feet from Roger Waters anyways. Its much more enjoyable in the back and its quite a view, really. Too much booze (a wealth of underage drinkers and an equal amount of older folks aiming to recaputre yesteryear), too many people with a blatant disregard for human life (I bought my ticket and ill do what i want mentality) has sent me to the back of the venue. While many venues still employ a no chairs/GA floor system, you wont catching me sprinting for the front, but instead a slow stroll to the back (or wherever the cheapest seats are)

Finally plowed through I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life & Times Of Warren Zevon by Crystal Zevon. Let the record show Zevon was a lovable/loathable asshole and sweetheart. He could be the gentlest soul you ever met or a raging monster, who happen to write some of the most enduring songs of all time, who broke our hearts and passed away in 2003. This book was and is painfully honest. It is not a worshipping hero "god he was a saint" kind of book. It tells the good, bad and ugly about the man and his music, as only Warren, his family, friends and peers could tell it. Next up is- Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, The Mob and Madness By Matt Birbeck. A book about Sammy Davis Jr, how he had the world by the grapes and died almost penniless? This is gonna be a dandy.

11/29/01. I woke up to the news that George Harrison, my favorite Beatle had passed away. Numb. I bought up every newspaper and magazine I could, listened to The Beatles for a week. My friends and I pondered the man, his music and that band he was in and decided that our grandkids were gonna know who The Beatles are and why they matter. His musical body of work is monumental but that is only a part of the story about the immortal George Harrison. 8 years later cant help but smile whenever I hear the works of The Quiet Beatle.

Thanksgiving went great, spent it with our pals in Fayetteville. Weight loss continues much to my delight and i've recently started jogging on the weekends, hell even co-workers have noticed. Amerks are kicking ass and the Sabres are slowly improving as well and have been playing well. Went Christmas shopping in Myrtle Beach, another wonderful day spent with my better half. Got her a bunch of stuff for christmas and went on a bender and bought birthday presents while I'm at it, all in about 45 mins. You get shopping down to a science after 3 years together but I enjoy it, and despite the occasional "So why dont you just tell me what you got me for christmas", I do enjoy shopping for her. love you hunny.

2009 is slowly winding down. Whatta year.

Saturday January 23, 2010
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro NC

George Strait
Reba McEntire
Lee Ann Womack

Concert #99 and a very merry christmas present from my lovely fiance.

dear god, 99 concerts since 6/24/00
dear god KING GEORGE & REBA!!

we have seen country music royalty. Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins and others like Sammy Kershaw, Pat Green, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert, James Otto, Lady Antebellum,  Phil Vassar. Josh Turner and Billy Currington. Now finally, I get to see two reigning champions of country music. George Strait & Reba (not to mention the great Lee Ann Womack)

George Strait: 30+ years on ONE record label (MCA) 57 #1 singles, 73 million albums sold, 13 multi-platinum, 32 platinum and 35 gold albums. His album certifications rank only behind Elvis & The Beatles in the history of recorded music.

Reba:  22 #1 singles, 28 albums have been certified Gold, Platinum or Multi-Platinum, 50 million albums sold and is the 7th seventh best-selling female artist in history

These two virtually redefined country music in the 80s and 90s all while keep the time honored tradition of country music in tact and respected. Like Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney & Brooks & Dunn they have taken country music and brought it to people that would have listened or cared. It is a true honor to be able to see these two giants in one night, with my best friend on earth. Thanks hunny. I Love You.

So The Who are allegedly gonna play half time at the Super Bowl. fantastic. I would love to see them do My Generation, just for humors sake, or maybe even Pictures Of Lily, that would be a hoot.

Plowed through several books as of late. brief rundowns follow:

KISS Alive Forever! The Complete Touring History by Curt Gooch & Jeff Sahs: This encylopedia of KISSTORY and concert information was absorbed in nearly a week before I saw them last October. great book and an easy reference to any and every single concert The Hottest Band In The World performed from their pre-KISS days in 1969 all the way through 2001. Great book and great insight to the touring machine that KISS was/is/will continue to be.

Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen: This eye opening of how history is taught in high school, why it is taught that way and why history remains among the most hated subjects among students. Thomas Jefferson was an atheiest and Columbus was a royal bastard. Who knew? Not me, until i read this book. It makes inditements against the 1,000 page text books that have become laundry lists of terms to memorize (for the test) key concepts and things to remember. All things considered I had great history teachers starting in 5th grade. they made history come alive. Whether that was our state reports in 5th grade (I had Wyoming and got an A-) or 11th grade history class formal debates, they really did all they possibly could to make us care, make us pay attention and make us enjoy it and I did and i thank them all. Any teacher or anyone who has a remote connection to education or just an American history buff owes it to themselves to read this book.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- Runnin Down A Dream by Tom Petty: The spoken word accompanyment to the 2006 3DVD/1CD Set of the same name (yes i already have it) this coffeetable book is just one long interview with a lot of pictures and i couldnt put it down. It tells the direct story, the good the bad and the ugly of one of American musics greatest treasures. Tom Petty might sound like The Byrds, early Beatles and Dylan but no one really sounds like Tom Petty. The music is timeless and is one of the few artists that parents and children can agree upon. I have had the honor of seeing him twice and got an itch to see him again (famous last words) one more time. His battles fought against the record labels, radio and the price of music is what gives one faith that artists arent just puppets of the label. He fought because he cared about the music first (who else would openly take a small profit cut on record sales). God bless Tom Petty

Binge- What Your College Student Wont Tell You by Barrett Seaman: This easy read wasnt anything I already didnt know, been there, done that and literally bought the shirt but it made for an intersting, stark truthful read on the culture of college in the 21st century. While at times it seems a little too "in my day" but i suppose thats just what happens, ill be guilty of it im sure someday. While i wont get into the specifics of my time and travels at Bonas, I still have yet to take a drink of alcohol so i remember my college days crystal clear with a drop of nostalgia, I am here to tell you, everything you think goes on, does. College kids do exactly what you think they do, some more than others. I will tell you that the kids slugging beer after beer like their Faber College predecessors in the cult classic Animal House 9 times out of 10 arent the ones ending up in hospitals, the ones guzzling hard liquor early in the night because they cant legally drink elsewhere are. The girls arent bashful and will go drink for drink with the boys (again, most girls i know wont touch beer, but will happily down shot after shot or fruity drink after fruity drink mixed with any poison of choice). I will maintain the drinking age ought to be 18. If you think the watering holes of Allegany are going to turn down scantily clad and tipsy college girls who are looking to spend money and have a good time because they arent 21, the first round is on me. some places a pulse and the ability to walk in is all you need.

Alcohol is the forbidden fruit and thus when one can, legally or otherwise enjoy it, kids see fit to drink to pass out or worse because its a rare treat. When 18 year olds go to college and have every right of a legal adult except drink, there will be backlash. Kids will drink if they god damn well please, there is no stopping that and i dont think anyone is dillusional enough to think that can be helped. Im sure some of my older (yet far wiser) readers would maintain in there day, the drink of choice was beer and the sole goal of the night was not so much blacking out but to losen up and enjoy the night and be able to recall it the next morning. Alcohol was something that just came along with college and it was generally treated with the same respect that those who entrusted you could drink it responsibly gave to you.

With Star 102.5 Buffalo's Christmas station streaming on the computer, allowing us to bring a little slice of WNY christmas to NC with us, I am ready, with open arms and wallet to embrace Christmas and the pending season. While it is in vouge to rant against Christmas and "ALREADY! Its to early" While i dont fault any folks who think its too early, I learned a thing or two during my marketing minor i picked up from Bonas Ol' St Bonas. People drink up the proverbial egg nog this time of year in double shots. Yes the deocrations in the stores and downtown come earlier. Yes the christmas music rings in our ears earlier and the stores are already painfully packed but we as a society cant resist the warm fuzzy feeling of christmas (pre credit card bills of course) that comes with the holiday. While there are 3 staunch Christmas Commandments I refuse to violate 1. No decorations in the house before thanksgiving and to anyone who ever saw my dorm room know that its quite a spectacle. 2. No egg nog, candy canes or assorted christmas culinary goodness til after thanksgiving 3. No christmas movies or specials before thanksgiving. It is also important to note all the aforementioned fun stops comes 12/26. Its impossible to feel festive after the fact.

We bitch, but we collectively buy into it, somehow the stores have managed to make us feel like "wow its christmas time already, nice" I still get a slight rush the first time i see the mall all tricked out in decorations. Some of my most prized memories of the past 3 years with Sara were borne of this time of year. Countless trips to Buffalo, armed with Tim Hortons and christmas tunes, making our trek to Walden Ave. Even if we never bought a thing, it was just a fun, heartwarming time and i never tired of it. (I could tell you what i bought, and what i had for dinner the first time we went to Galleria Mall together, early Dec 06) those drives back in the dark, just us and the music in the black silence of the night, so peaceful, and those simple memories are among what i cherish the most. spending time and occasionally money, but just being with each other.

Seeing the main drag in Olean all lit up, snow falling in the glow of the streetlights, looking at campus in a wonderous awe when the snow was fresh and night was quiet (that campus is gorgeous when covered in fresh snow)from our first christmas (estatic that i had someone to buy a present for), to our 2nd christmas in Niagra Falls, to our 3rd christmas spending nearly a week at her house and seeing the Sabres beat the hell outta the LA Kings in a near blizzard, its all prized memories of christmas, not even touching on the endless strings of cherished memories from Christmases of youth. I cant possibly be annoyed with Christmas. With all the Whos down in Whoville, I say Welcome Christmas, while stand, heart to heart and hand in hand.

Shake Me Like A Monkey 2009

If its anything that makes me long for the summer, lazy days, long nights, sandals, Grateful Dead tye dyes, its the music of Dave Matthews Band and the thought of where and when DMB concert #6 will be.

Things continue to go well here. I am down about 25-30 pounds since anyone here has seen me. we both are working out and eating well. thats all, Sara is a superb chef but you wont find frozen french fries or microwave pizzas in our house. its so much easier to be good on your own then when living at home and the fridge is just magically filled or you are on a campus filled with temptations there and just up the road. Even went for a little jog/walk on sunday, only wish it stayed warmer longer.

Went Truckin up to Fayetteville, shoulder to shoulder crowds enjoying the pre-pre Black Friday sales, how am I supposed to carefully scout out appropriate christmas gifts for my better half in conditions like this? Ever try browsing a Yankee Candle with 2,857 people in it? dont.

Sabres & Amerks. Hell yeah.
Bills. WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR. Giving fans hope since 1996 then breaking their balls.

JEFF BECK AT THE ROCHESTER INTL JAZZFEST !?!?!?! Praise Christ. Another annouced headliner is Bernie Williams of the much loathed NY Yankees, he does have an incredible jazzband, i know for sure he plays guitar.

I think i know what Santa is bringing, while i know what it is, a rather hefty gift, ill wait til there is more info to give. Lets just say the #99 isnt just significant to The Great One....

All  has been well. Went to a minor league hockey game on friday night, Fayetteville Fireantz vs Mississippi Surge. Fayetteville won 4-2 and i got my hockey fix for now. The joys of being a minor league hockey city, seeing a great game for $12 a ticket.  Things are going well here. Cant complain really. Job is going well, Sara is enjoying her job, its just now feeling like fall in NC, but thats okay.

Got word yesterday that Steven Tyler has left Aerosmith, the band he has fronted since 1969.  The band is currently wrestling with their future and wondering what to do next. Whether or not Aerosmith continues of course is up to them, had they broken up in 1980 they would be on the larger than life, fairy tale scale that Zeppelin and The Doors are. Aerosmith cant really exist without Steven Tyler, and that being said, Steven Tyler cant exist without Aerosmith. Guess he wants to be heard and get his solo product out there. Coming to a bargain bin near you, Steven Tyler's solo album/project. It will be very interesting to see how this unfolds. The band that could have been bigger than the Stones. Had the world by the balls, gave it all up only to regain it back and enjoy a 2nd go-round of success that breathed new life into the band and propelled them into some of their most famous and provoking material of their career. Its gonna be real interesting.

I had listened to Green Day during my morning workout, hadnt listened to them in awhile, but that greatest hits album takes me right back to high school, when virtually everyone loved Green Day and it got me thinking again, the question I have asked others before. What bands will we show our children. Who are the acts that we can say grabbed our generaiton by the throat and didnt let go? Furthermore, could we even collectively agree on a top 5 or even a top 10? Probably not.

Our generation is so fragmented musically with all the various sub genres, labels and niches that its hard to say everyone was in love with fill-in-the-blank. Just seemed the generations before had baskets full of bands to be proud of and pass on, we can fit all of ours in a peanut bag. Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, Green Day, U2, and Coldplay would be where i start, and im sure you can find folks that wouldnt mention half of those bands, and the Chili Peppers and U2 is stretching to say they were "our bands". I guess they should be aware of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Nirvana (i hate Nirvana but that was a snapshot in time, where love the music or hate it, everyone had an opinion and it got people talking, which is the goal of music in the first place. to make people care). Then comes the scores of artists that I adore but wouldnt register at all in the big picture: OAR, matt nathanson, foo fighters, guster, ben folds, steel train, goo goo dolls, ani difranco, ra ra riot, ryan adams, michael tolcher, virginia coaltion, govt mule, augustana, soulive, robert randolph, matisyahu, the format, buckcherry, vains of jenna, ZO2, endeverafter, kathleen edwards, brandi carlile, ozalmatli, kings of leon, band of horses, m.ward, andrew bird, conor oberst, animal collective and countless others that have forever been etched in my musical memory bank. maybe we are better off having to dig for our musical high as opposed to having it served up on a silver platter via FM radio or the top 40.


Aerosmith: A genuine American treasure.



This makes me a proud Alum. god that feels weird. not proud, but Alum...I love you SBU & WSBU, greatest school on the planet and the greatest 2nd home anyone could ever ask for.

Halloween has come and gone and it was a helluva time. I immortalized my hockey heroes, the Hanson Brothers from the '77 cult classic Slap Shot and Sara was Drew Bledsoe (what the hell else am I gonna do with a Bledsoe jersey...when in Smokey Bones Resturant and Bar in Fayetteville, the MC of the night said i may have found the funniest costume of the night, a Buffalo Bills player, much to the delight of the patrons, all in good fun.  We went to Doc's at City Hall aka Chuck E. Cheese for adults, complete with pool, darts, shuffle board, resturant/bar and jukebox. $2 got me: Up On Cripple Creek (The Band), Thank You Fa Lettin Me Be Myself Again(Sly & The Family Stone), You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC)...killer one-two punch that got the patrons singin, that being Brick House (The Commodores) and Boogie Wonderland (Earth, Wind & Fire) and finished strong with Piece Of My Heart (Janis Joplin), Maggie Mae (Rod Stewart) and Pearl Necklace (ZZ Top). Very very fun night moved onto Smokey Bones Resturant and ended right around midnight. great night with great people. Hope to do it again soon.

Buffalo Bills took a beating. Moving on...

Student loans are approximately $70,000. If someone can justify this price tag, besides having gotten to attend the best god damn university on the planet and meeting me wife-to-be there, I would love to hear it.



(fairly certain this scene was shot at the Syracuse War Memorial (the stage end on the left is what leads me to believe it is so) I do know they paid people $2.50 an hour to show up as extras, upon Paul Newman's death, the Syacuse Crunch retired his character, Reggie Dunlop's #7)

all has been well really. Job is a job, weight loss continues, weather has been decent, Amerks are winning, Sabres are winning, the Bills.....the Amerks are winning and the Sabres are winning.  Halloween festivities have commenced. Pumpkins carved, cider in the fridge, occasional nibble of candy corn (we tried the apple cider flavored candy corn from Wal Mart...grave mistake on our part) and im sure there will be big doin's in Fayetteville this weekend.


HE'S BACK!

The biggest selling solo artist in the history of recorded music is back.

I remember when the NBC concert special This Is Garth Brooks! aired in 92 or 93 (where the above video is from) This was shot at the Reunion Arena in Dallas. The next special This Is Garth Brooks Too! was shot at Texas Stadium. Next tb special was shot at Central Park. see where im going with this?

The unthinkable was announced a few weeks ago (though I knew plans were in the works because i keep up with nonsense like this) Brooks will play 4 shows a weekend for 16 weekends a year for 5 years at the Wynn Casino and Resort. he can quit at any time and must only fullfill the shows that go on sale. He retired from touring and recording in 2001 as a promise to his children that he would not return until the youngest girl leaves for college (2014) he has fullfilled a few box sets and greatest hits requirements and has done a couple of one-off benefit shows but he has stayed true to his word. a private jet allows him to leave for Vegas on a friday afternoon and be back by monday morning to take his children to work. He has refused scores of offers that would make a lesser man break. For that I give him all the credit in the world. Brooks emphasised that this is not a tour or a full on Garth specatacle. Him and his guitar, no band, no massive stage, no setlist. 90 mins of solo acoustic Garth. The pricetag (steep by some opinions but a give-away for Vegas tickets) is $125. To put it in perspective. pick your favorite band...Stones, U2, Clapton, Dylan, whoever and put them in a venue the size of the Quick Arts Center (for the Bonas folks) or in a small auditorium. Worth every penny and the first 20 shows were sold out within 3.5 hours and the hotel was actually at the maximum number of calls it could possibly take at one time, throughout the day. no one could get through, even for room service. measures have been taken to ward off scalpers (something like an all will call only type thing that assures tickets dont touch peoples hands until they are in the venue and accounted for). this is really gonna be something. Brooks, the ever humble soul, has said many times, "Country music is a young man's game and he has stayed away in part because he didnt know if anyone would care about an old man like himself"

This i NEED to see.

Brand new Destroyer shirt.
camera.
ear plugs (Am I getting old?)
sharpie.
envelope to write down setlists
TICKETS. dear god dont forget them
Mix cds (Various 70s hard rock and 80s haribands)
gorgeous fiance in my Van Halen shirt.
a healthy dose of youth, nostalgia, innocence and the spirit of rock & roll.
Ok, I got everything i need. Lets go see KISS & Buckcherry.

Saturday June 24, 2000, HSBC Arena, Buffalo NY (section 206 row 6) KISS, Ted Nugent & Skid Row. 1st concert & 1st time seeing KISS. Mom & Dad in tow. Never thought in a million years I'd get to see them and now that they had annouced the Farewell Tour (LIES) I thought I may never see them. I was pleading to go to Columbus OH because I didnt think they'd come closer. I was 13, KISS was my favorite band on the planet. I recently dug out pictures from that concert (the good old days of Kodak disposables) and i can almost remember every single picture, in some cases i can even identify what song it was during. When that curtain dropped that the 4 original members decended on that stage, I will never forget that intial feeling of sheer awe

Wednesday July 14, 2004, Darien Lake PAC, Darien Center, NY (lawn) KISS, Poison, ZO2. After a mini monsoon, I was worried we were gonna get soaked and it was gonna be a miserable time, My then best friends Joe, Jon, Mike, Ricardo and Ade (Ade I am still close with) were all seeing KISS & Poison for there first time. It was raining steady during the opener ZO2 but it cleared up in time for Poison, who they enjoyed much more than they let on. The looks on their faces when KISS took that stage is the embodiment of the magic of rock and roll. They had that same look of wonder, awe and admiration that I had (and it wasnt even the original lineup up there but i deeply wanted them to see my favorite band anyways). That night is a priceless and memorable snapshot of my high school years as senior year was right around the corner. a few days after that I had my senior pictures done. In one of the pictures, whatelse would I be wearing but my brand new KISS Rock The Nation 2004 tour shirt.

Saturday March 1, 2008, Bears Den @ Seneca Niagara Casino, Niagara Falls NY (section 1 row 5) Ace Frehley. I SHOOK ACE FREHLEY'S HAND.  What more do you wanna know? I got back and asked Sara. "Are you sure that was my hand?" In the elevator she asked me"you gonna be ok?" I probably just looked like I hit the proverbial jackpot. In a small way, I had.

Saturday October 17, 2009, Bi-Lo Center, Greenville Sc (section 224, row J) KISS & Buckcherry. We had gone out with friends the previous night to a dive bar in Fayetteville to see Big Daddy Drive, local bar band that was really good and was described as "Rick Springfield on crack" so I had been in concert mode all night friday and that just carried on into saturday. work out which was counteracted by lunch at Zaxby's and we were on our way, 3.5 hours down the yellow brick road of rock and roll to see the Wizard. Upon arrival and declaring parking downtown a complete clusterfuck, we parked in the arena parking garage for $5 (a real steal, not making me nostalgic for those $15-20 lots in downtown Buffalo or Rochester) and we walked and me being lazy says we should walk into the 1st resturant we see because hey, its cold out.  that resturant happened to be Tsunami, a Japanese steakhouse. we both got the simplest dishes on the menu, hibachi steak and chicken respectively, the seasame dressing for the salad could have killed us or worse. Not to mention i dont do sushi. The guts inside of them sounds delich. but i cant get past the raw fish/cold rice thing. it wasnt bad but thats what i get for being lazy. 6 page menu and i struggled to find one item.

After dinner we went on back to the arena and stood in the ranks of the loyal KISS Army soilders, standing among grown men, women and children in KISS makeup. No one EVER accused us of being a well dressed or a classy bunch. Little kids getting their picture taken with a guy in Gene makeup or a gentleman in a full Paul Stanley costume complete with boots, kind of like how normal kids get their picture taken with Mickey Mouse or Santa Claus. Its bizzare but heartwarming at the same time. Though it seemed a lot of the kids were too young. Rock & Roll does not always measure out to family entertainment. Parents really need to examine what they are taking their 6 year old daughters to, not saying they dont belong but use common sense. yet few bands exist that 3 or 4 generations can really bond over and enjoy as much as KISS.

After buying the $25 soundboard recording of KISS' performance we mad it up to our seats and we had a great view.  Soon enough the lights were out and we were enjoying Buckcherry for the 3rd time. they are great and never let you down. Relentless Guns n Roses style 80s hard rock with a modern edge. this band was all but left for dead after their sophomore release Time Bomb in 2001 (I remember practically racing to the store to buy this on cassette in 8th grade, I've always loved this band) tanked and the band disinergrated, revitalized in 2006, they released their 3rd album called 15. That album went platnium with 4 hit singles (in modern day, that is no feat to be ignored when sometimes less than 100,000 copies sold will get you a #1 album) That album contained a song that has been certified as a platnium RINGTONE, a ditty called Crazy Bitch. Admittingly its in terrible taste but its so damn catchy. The band blazed through their set with a red hot fury, which included a great cover of Deep Purple's Highway Star.

The crowd was very responsive and really welcomed the band (KISS fans are famous for not showing up for opening acts and are their only to see their boys. there have been less than 1/2 capacity when bands like Skid Row, Ted Nugent, Poison and even Aerosmith take the stage only to see the room overflow with people once KISS hits the stage' Josh Todd (Equal parts Iggy Pop, Steven Tyler and Axl Rose) sauntered about the stage "We got one song left, what is it you wanna hear?......fuckin Jack & Diane, what are you smoking?...uh-oh...THEY WANNA HEAR THE THE CRAZY BITCH!!" and with that the band put everything they had into that last tune, involving the crowd in a massive sing-a-long. This band never dissappoints and is truly enjoying their 2nd live. great band.

Had about 45 mins to kill before The Main Event. Upon returning from the bathroom, a thunderous roar was heard from the concourse. the giant black KISS curtain had dropped, covering the stage. almost time! KISS always has a signature song before they come on which is usually played at concrete cracking volume. I knew it was to be Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin and when that drum intro kicked in, that arena shook with approval! here we go! Though it clocks in at 3.40 that was the longest 3.40 in recent memory (the last 2 tours they used Wont Get Fooled Again, an even longer song)

ALRIGHT GREENVILLE! YOU WANTED THE BEST. YOU GOT THE BEST. THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD. KISS.

With that the curtain dropped and there they were in all their glory. While I will spare you the song by song recap, know that it was an amazing show and at the end of the day, there is only one band like this and when they are gone there will be a major void left in live music. musical tastes aside, the impact of this band on Americana, the music business and the concert industry is undeniable. The fans seem to respond real welll to Tommy & Eric (i will spare you the debate about them wearing Ace & Peter's makeup and playing "their" songs, but they are amazing players and I am happy to have seen them both twice. Gene & Paul have been with this band 38 years and have done everything on their terms, why would it be any different now)

Gene & Paul certainly show their age at 60 and 57 respectively but greasepaint cant hide everything. They may be shorter of breath more frequently, the voices may crack and there are notes that have become much harder to hit, but reference their age again. If you wanna stay home because their voices arent up to your expectations and its "not real" because they have to tune down, then more room for us. Its the same nonsense that arose when Zeppelin did the O2 gig in London a few years ago "highly annoyed, they tuned down so the notes were easier to hit for Plant" ARE YOU KIDDING ME? you were the envy of the music world to have held a ticket that night and thats your grievance. Maybe I accept less than stellar because I never saw these bands in their glory days and I accept less because I know each time I see them may be the last, but I am thankful for every single show I have been to, all 98 of them. Sara did seem to enjoy it and the cultural impact makes sense to her now. to see literally generations of fans in the arena, loving every minute, embodies the very essence and spirit of rock & roll. Fun, youth, energy, excitement, awe and sheer happiness

KISS
Deuce
Strutter
Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll
Hotter Than Hell
Shock Me
Modern Day Delilah
Calling Dr. Love
She
Parasite
100,000 Years
I Love It Loud
Black Diamond
Rock And Roll All Nite
Shout It Out Loud
Lick It Up
Love Gun
Detroit Rock City

Buckcherry
Tired Of You
Next To You
Out Of Line
Talk To Me
Rescue Me
Highway Star (Deep Purple)
Everything
Sorry
Crazy Bitch

The Road Goes On Forever.

I Love the Allman Brothers Band. They've been a huge part of my musical vocab for several years, and i have been enjoying them live since 2005, being this is their 40th Anniversary, I was crushed when i thought I may have to miss them. Mid last week Sara was invited to an all girls night of fun/shenanigans in Myrtle Beach and it left me to think, why dont I ask Matt (husband of a girl Sara teaches with) to go see them with me. He hadnt been to a show in 2 years, I hadnt been to one since July. Arrangements were made and on Sun Oct 11, Coke bottle in hand and ABB cd in the stereo, we began Truckin, up to Raleigh on a gorgeous sunday afternoon for my 5th Allman Brothers concert.

We stopped for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings after claiming the tickets at will-call. What an All American Sunday. Coca Cola. Chicken Wings. Football. (BILLS LOSING 6-3...Christ) and the Allman Brothers. Surrounded by football fans of all devotions and creeds it was refreshing to see an Andre Reed jersey as we walked in the door. We left after lunch for the parking lot, making friends from Colorado, Cleveland and Atlanta among other places. Only in a concert parking lot can complete strangers talk and converse as if they were long lost cousins at a family get togehter.

Time Warner Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek is much more gorgeous than its name (picture CMAC aka Finger Lakes PAC) in Canandaigua but on a gorgeous southern summer night. excellent sight lines, acoustics and set up in general. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences i have ever had on any lawn at any venue.

Widespread Panic, whom I was seeing for the 1st time was relentless. Like a barn-burning 80s Grateful Dead. I was very very impressed and explained to Matt who enjoyed every minute about Jam Band Nation, this almost secret society that once you get in and you get the key that unlocks all this great music that you will not find anywhere else. You really have to dig for good tunes, but there are plenty, and I truly mean plenty out there.  I was sure to pick up the soundboard recording of this ($10) and will listen to it again in a short while to truly reabsorb all they laid down before us. they are a fantastic band and im really glad i finally saw them.

Allman Brothers 40th Anniversary Tour.

Dedicated To A Brother.

Those are the two sentences that appeared on the screens before an opening montage of pics of Duane Allman & Berry Oakley, as the band ripped into the old chestnut Dont Want You No More>Aint My Cross To Bear. Gregg Allman was firing on all cylinders tonight, singing like a man possesed. looking up at that road-worn face on the screens, I couldnt believe, there they were, the Allman Brothers. while they might be missing some original parts, the machine still runs like nothing else in the music business today. It was far from greatest hits night, which is fine with me. those kind of nights enable the band to really break out and do some off the wall stuff that one might not expect to hear including a blistering reading of Blind Faith's Can't Find My Way Home, I got chills during that one, having heard the immortal Steve Winwood belt that out just 2 years ago to an apathetic/lazy ass crowd at Darien Lake PAC who were awaiting Tom Petty. Allman offered a gorgeous reading of Melissa (god whatta beautiful song). The end of the set saw a hot damn reading of In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed and ball breaking rendition of Southbound.  I was prepared that night to say goodbye to the Brothers. The end of their illustrious 40 year career is undoubtedly near, as founding member/drummer Butch Trucks can barely straighten his right arm. But something inside itches, too see them....just one more time, its knowing that when they are gone, there will be an irreplacable void in live music, that seems hard to fathom. many more live acts will come and go and i will enjoy as many as i can, but there is something very special, very basic and very american about the legendary, the iconic, the immortal Allman Brothers Band.

Less than 48 hours as i prepare to possibly say goodbye to another act whose influence and music has changed me and forever attached themselves to my musical vocab: KISS


Allman Brothers Band
Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Raleigh, NC
Sunday October 11, 2009

Disc I

1. Don’t Want You No More
2. It’s Not My Cross To Bear
3. Done Somebody Wrong
4. Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’
5. Only You Know And I Know
6. Can’t Find My Way Home
7. No One To Run With
8. Who’s Been Talking
9. You Don’t Love Me
10. The Same Thing
11.  Melissa
12. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
13. JaBuMa
14. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed reprise
15. Southbound

Widespread Panic
Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Raleigh, NC
Sunday October 11, 2009

1. Pigeons
2. 1 x 1
3. Proving Ground
4. Down
5. Holden Oversoul
6. Little Lilly
7. Tie Your Shoes
8. City Of Dreams
9. B of D
10. Barstools and Dreamers
11. Ribs and Whiskey
12. Stop Breakin' Down Blues
13. Ribs and Whiskey *
14. Tall Boy *
15. Ain't Life Grand *

* with Warren Haynes

 

KISS "Modern Day Delilah" on David Letterman

DETROIT ROCK CITY !!!

Tuesday October 6, 2009. KISS released their first new album of brand new material since 1998's Psycho Circus. Sonic Boom features KISS founders and original members Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley, Eric Singer (1991-95, 2001, 2003-current) & Tommy Thayer (2004-current). To start off with my thoughts song by song are posted below, then some closing thoughts.

**note: to put things in context i include the year an album was released whenever referring to a record i.e Revenge '92. KISS wore makeup 74-82 and 96-current

Modern Day Delilah: As soon as I heard this was going to be the leadoff single, I was intrigued to say the least. Last time i had a new KISS song to be excited about was 1998.This song screams KISS. Riffy, laden with classic KISS guitar hooks with a great chant/chorus that will be stuck in your head upon 1st listen. this could have easily fit on Creatures of the Night '82 or Revenge '92 This IS KISS.

Russian Roulette: Gene's vocals leave some to be deired, a spoken in rhythm vocal, Mid 80's KISS, style. catchy 

Never Enough: You try wailing like Banshee for 38 years and check back with me and tell me how your voice sounds, its road worn but thats the charm. Eric shines on the drums here. Tommy's guitar licks are too close to Ace's for my taste. The KISS sound can only beneifit from Thayer's originality. KISS has had 4 replacements for Frehley and they all had their shining moments when they didnt try to copy Ace

Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect): standard Gene song. this vocal sounds a little more effortless and he just lets it rip. this sounds like something that could have been on the first album or Dressed To Kill '75 Simmons tries to sing in that God of Thunder growl vocal range and he hasnt been able to recapture it for years. Its okay, dont try so hard. Who wants to be a 60 year old Demon? It sounds kinda like Slade on second thought, lyrically its Gene. Not a bad effort but not quite the GENE IS BACK song i was hoping for.

Stand: LOVE IT. Gene & Paul trade off great vocals here, very Hot In The Shade '89  and a great harmony breakdown late song ala "I
Just Wanna", Revenge '92 it totally for there to be this anthem of best friends and friendship between two morons/rock gods who have been making magic since 1969. This is what i was hoping for.

Hot & Cold: GENE IS BACK. This is a straight ahead Simmons classic, maybe classic is a stretch but this could have it in
comfortably on Rock & Roll Over ('77) or on the studio side of Alive II '78 (It is often wondered what a different path KISSTORY could have taken if they used those songs as the basis of their 7th studio album...)

All For The Glory: SINGER CAN SING. Bad joke i know but it is great to finally hear Eric Singer, an accomplished drummer, with that same gritty, whiskey soaked voice like Peter Criss finally get to sing, another anthem-like song. Could have fit on Crazy Nights '87. A little heavy on the polish but this is a great one, hopefully if they do the Sonic Boom Tour in 2010 (and i see them for the 4th time) they let Eric do this. great job on this.

Danger Us: Classic Destroyer '76 hooks but would fit comfortably on Revenge '92 (when i refer to Revenge, understand it is widely regarded as their best non makeup album and is held in high regards to this day) this has a lot of live potential

I'm An Animal: very Dressed to Kill '75 sounding and VERY GENE SIMMONS, kinda sounds the Love Gun '77 gem "Almost Human", this could easily be his new blood spitting song, and thats saying something. this is very very good.

When Lightning Strikes: This is we asked for a Tommy Thayer vocal. The guy can sing (he was in a band called Black N Blue during the mid 80s, that had moderate success). I really am pleased with this. his own vocal style and not copping Ace at all, though the tune feels very Hotter Than Hell '74 but give him credit. he REALLY needs to do this live, it stands up on its own merit. Tommy licks and Tommy vocals. I enjoyed this tune.

Say Yeah. CLASSIC PAUL. This is very C'mon & Love Me (from Dressed To Kill '75) great way to end the album. This has KISS written all over it. this deff. deserves a sincere chance live.

 All in all. This album will only grow favorably in time, not a masterpiece like Revenge, Creatures or Destroyer but a very good, solid KISS record, this is what the KISS Army has been hoping for.

The record sounds like KISS. Sounding like KISS doesnt mean trying to play like departed band member or re-working old riffs. its a spirit and vibe..its power. That spirit has been alive and burning since 1973. It has looked different over the years and it sure has sounded different but the spirit, the very basis of this band is still very much alive.

Now comes my bitching. This is a Wal-Mart exclusive release and in the same vein as the new Foreigner & Journey albums, it was 3 disc set. 1 disc being the new studio album, 2nd disc being a short concert DVD and the 3rd being a CD of RERECORDINGS. You dont re-record Rock & Roll All Night, Dont Stop Believin or Feels Like The First Time. Ever. KISS did release the re-recordings via a promo in Japan last year and it went over well as Japan has always been a fantaical stronghold for the band. This is wrought with the stentch of bad taste. This is done to bulk up the product and so they may charge $12, get a huge fucking check from Wal Mart and so that the original songwriters may be cut out of the performance fees and royalties.  I can hardly stand to to listen to the thing. Though in fact all you have to do is add audience noise and you have what KISS sounds like live in 2009. KISS did a similar thing in '88 when they released Smashes, Thrashes and Hits. they put 2 new songs on there and re-replaced the drums and guitars. I dont really listen to that much either but. Its a greatest hits album, but dont re-record the stuff. Sharron Osbourne pulled a similar stunt a few years back by cutting out Ozzy's then back up band by replacing them with the current guys so they wouldnt recieve back royalties from all the copies the reissues would sell.

Onto the makeup. Dont believe your eyes. It is NOT Ace Frehley & Peter Criss in the makeup and costumes. (long pathetic story very very short: KISS sued Casablanca records in '78 due to their solo albums, one solo album from each member, released on the same day, not selling very well and losing millions due to them being sent to the "cut out" bins. Casblanca gets bought out by Polygram in '82-83 and because they bit the hand that fed them then, they were over a barrel and from then on signed a contract that defined KISS as Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley, meaning anyone else who joined the band thereafter would be hired employees and have virtually no power within business decisions. When the original 4 reunited, they hired Ace & Peter back as employees on salary. there was not a 4 way split of monies as one may expect and Ace & Peter were forced to sell their makeup, likeness and costumes to Gene & Paul. Which means legally speaking KISS can put anyone they choose in Ace & Peter's makeup and outfits because Gene & Paul have copyrighted the makeup as trademarks and the likeness of "The Space Man" and "The Catman" as characters, just like Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck. To say its not KISS isnt fair. KISS is defined as Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer & Tommy Thayer. While we all have our favorite members, incarnations and albums, its ALL KISS.

It is in bad taste to have two others (whose musical talents i will never ever call into question) where that iconic makeup. The Yankees will never reissue #3, 5, 7 etc, KISS should not reissue that makeup. Eric Carr & Vinnie Vincent had new makeup and costume designs and the fans respected that because the orignal incarnation was left alone and respected. they know the average person on the street will see that album cover and think hey its the originals, and dont think there arent folks who will be going to Greenville SC on 10/17 who dont know thats not Ace & Peter. Even for those who know, then why pretend. Im not going to see facepaint and bombs i am going to HEAR the music and watch them play. I would still wanna go even if they were unmasked and in street clothes. The end of the line for the band is getting closer and closer and i really wanna see them end this, a band that has brightened millions of lives the world over, with class and as rock and roll champions. This band is too special, too sacred to end any other way. One week from today, i see KISS for the 3rd time. cant fucking wait!

tomorrow: The Allman Brothers & Widespread Panic @ TIme Warner Ampitheater at Walnut Creek In Raleigh. ah boy !!

a year ago yesterday me and my leading lady saw Brooks & Dunn at Seneca Allegany Casino. 8th row, center. That was one of the most dynamic and fun shows I have EVER been to. If you ever wanna treat a friend to a country concert, take them to Brooks & Dunn or Kenny Chesney. The band recently annouced their Last Rodeo '10 Tour and just released a new 2CD set #1s and Then Some.  They say there is no ill or bad blood but after a 20 year non stop career its time to go and leave the party at the top of their game. Its unreal how many #1 smash singles they have gathered up and how may others came close to the #1 mark. Country music is about to say goodbye to of the best duos and country live acts of all time. Long before Big & Rich and Montgomery Gentry there was Brooks & Dunn (and The Judds). hope to see the boys one more time in concert, in what will be sure to be a helluva concert and a party not to be forgotten.

Sabres/Amerks dropped their openers but its early yet.
Braves missed the playoffs by that much...that much.

spend a glorious afternoon on Myrtle Beach. Tis quite a treat to take a moonlight stroll on the beach with only the moonlight as your guide with your lover. The beach life is addicting, let me tell ya (I expected Springsteen to emerge at any moment to serenade us with 4th of July (Ashbury Park) or  Spirit in the Night or some other tasty track from his vast catalog....he never showed up) minus the sunburn and the unspeakable illness that followed dinner (Beware of seafood buffets...like so many things, you are better off paying for the real thing than cheaping out on a buffet. mind you we were both curious and it was supposed to pretty good, but dine at your own risk. my stomach is fucked up somethin awful and the occasional upset tummy is infact, accute pancreitis. Medcine will be purchased tonight in hopes to combat this pesky pain, but I'm fine.

I swore I wouldnt fall for it again.

I swore i wouldnt be taken advantage of.

Curse you bargain tables at Barnes & Noble.

not counting the 7 books i put back (i figured this was no time to be frivelous) I got Tom Petty & The Heartbrekers- Runnin Down A Dream book for $10 (orignal price $40) and KISS ALIVE Forever- The Complete Touring History for $8 (original price $30). I freakin love books stores especially bargain tables. the treasures that await are unspeakable. The Barnes and Noble splurge capped off a wonderful day spent in Fayetteville (when in Fayetteville, try Tripps Resturant...end of story) i do love the days we waste away together and yesterday was no different. I love you hunny.

slowly working on my book, very slowly, but its coming along.

work continues to go well, cant really complain.

KISS has been nominated for the Rock & Roll HOF...no use in expending my energy on WHY they should be, you'll only hear me bitch if they dont make it.

continue to work out and continue to slowly see results. I am lighter now than i was as a college freshman.

Sabres preseason is going fairly decent and the Atlanta Braves are 2.5 games out of the wild card, with 8 games left and chasing the Colorado Rockies...c'mon guys, please make it to October baseball, anything can happen after that.

I just finished Mike Schmidt's book Clearing The Bases. hell of a book and an easy read. While the arguements about how much better baseball was "back in the day" are prob. accurate, the game has changed and its never going back, i can only imagine what the glory days of baseball were like, when players were bigger than life, without the help of a syringe full of juice.

Below is a Home Run Derby, date unknown. Hank Aaron vs Duke Snider...enjoy

Ace Frehley is back !!!

Founding member of hard rock legends, KISS and iconic guitar hero Ace Frehley has released his first solo album since 1989's Trouble Walkin'. The album is called Anomaly and it is beyond what i could have hoped for.

Ever since I saw Ace at that Niagara Falls '08 show, i kept hoping and cheering for him. cheering him on that he would finally release that long awaited solo album and return to the music world bigger than ever. I hoped this record would silence the critics and shut up Gene & Paul who continue to spit venom into the press and claim that KISS is better now than ever before, and working with Ace & Peter again was torture beyond torture and that it was a mistake to begin with (notice this is their tune AFTER they had the #1 tour of 1996-97 and after they conned us into believing that the Farewelll Tour was a real and true goodbye), when Paul says its a miracle Ace is still alive and Gene and Paul ARE KISS etc, its just like c'mon Ace i know you got another kick ass album in you. As a fan it kills you to hear your musical heroes tear the other half of the band apart (and you gotta wonder what the other side of the story is that only Ace & Peter can tell) Frehley said he was trying to harken back to where he was at when he wrote his self titled 1978 solo album (and he had the best selling solo album of the 4 members by a mile and a hit single with New York Groove). He did indeed return to form on this record. I was very pleased.

Outer Space, the lead off single. flat out rocks. this could easily be an outtake from any one of his solo albums. Pain In The Neck and Foxy and Free are hard rockers as well. There are mind numbing instrumentals in Space Bear and Fractured Quantam. Frehley rips a great cover of Sweet's Fox On The Run as well. Here comes the surprising part. Ace wrote two softer songs for this record, which are becoming fan favorites and really shocking people that the ultimate rock god can strip down to an acoustic guitar and really offer great songs in A Little Below The Angels(absolutely gorgeous song...a line of the song is the title of this journal entry) and It's A Great Life.  Ace opens up here on these two that he had the world by the balls and fucked it up and it has cost him dearly. 3 years sober Ace is back and kicking ass again. I can only hope to get the privilege of seeing him...One.More. Time.

New KISS album Oct. 6 and the tour kicks off 9/25 in Detroit and then onto Cleveland on 9/29. here we go.

While i was a little guy when the Bills were at the top of the glory, id have given an arm to be able to remember it all, here's to hoping maybe just maybe, we have something to Shout about this year.

3 years today. I Love You Sara.

Spent a great night in Fayettville watching the end of the Michigan/ND and USC/Ohio State game, great times as always

Saturday i went on a bit of a book bender. The Lumberton Public Library had a sale, buy a bag for $1 and whatever fits in it is yours. the response was so overwhelming  they ran out of bags and changed it to pay $1, whatever you can carry is yours. $246 worth of books for $1.

• Double Trouble: Bill Clinton and Elvis Presley In a Land of No Alternatives by Greil Marcus
• The Dark Side Of The Supernatural: Learning What Is Of God and What is Not by Bill Myers & David Wimbish (on 2nd glance this looks a little preachy for my taste but it should still be a good read.)
• What Happened: Inside the Bush White House & Washington's Culture of Deception by Scott McClellan
• The Real Animal House: A Mostly Lucid Memoir by Chris Miller
• No Big Deal by Mark Fidrych and Tom Clark
• Meat Market: Inside The Smash-Mouth World of College Football Recruiting by Bruce Feldman
• Confessions of an SOB by Al Neuharth
• One Night, Two Teams: Alabama vs USC and the Game That Changed a Nation by Steven Travers
• Fooled Again: How The Right Stole the 2004 Election & Why They'll Steal the Next One Too (Unless We Stop Them) by Mark Crispin Miller
• Summer of '98 by Mike Lupica
• Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports: by Mark Fainaru and Lance Williams
   

And to think what i would have found if we were there the first day, where softcovers were $1 and hardcovers were $2 (which means that what i bought would have cost $20 but still...my god)

Now is as good a time as ever to annouce that I am working on a book. working title is Enjoy The Show: True Confessions of a Music Junkie and a Concert Whore by Joe Centanni. This is aimed to be a light hearted, easy read book that explains just how i discovered the music i love and why i love it so much (this will include Sinatra, Beatles, KISS, Dylan, Grateful Dead and others), lists that will include Concert Commandments, 10 Things You Should Know, 10 Things Not To Leave The House Without etc and show by show chronicles of the 25 best concerts I have ever seen. I have about 7 chapters under my belt and this remains in the very early writing stages but it is something i have wanted to do for a long time, to have a book with my name on it. I dont know when it will see the light of day or if anyone would even want it (I have looked at self publishing sites like Virtualbookworm.com and they charge upwards of $360 and im not even sure of what that includes) but I have started and that is progress in and of itself.

3 years.

I have been in a loving relationship with my love, Sara Lynn for 3 years as of tomorrow. I couldnt possibly ask for more than what I've got. Right here and right now. We met in college. Fell in love. graduated. got jobs. followed each other and our dreams right down to where we are right now in Lumberton NC. Where ever the dream goes, so long as she is with me, I'm prepared to go.

Top 6 Moments Together

1) 7/31/09 Engagement.
well duh. I finally got up the courage to ask her, in the early morning hours of that Friday, and with that Grateful Dead concert still playing she probably really never saw it coming, while i had a vauge idea of what her response would be, thinking about her reaction and then seeing it and hearing her answer was completely different. and let the record show i dropped the ring as i attempted to place it on her finger.

2) Dec 18-20 2007 Christmas in Niagara Falls.
armed with DMB: Live at Piedmont and Live Trax 10 for driving tunes, me and my best friend drove to Niagara Falls to celebrate the holiday with each other. Won $350 and spent most of it up there, which was fine with me. Rode up to the top of the Skylon Tower, it was such a gorgeous view but it was so god damn cold we lasted maybe a minute. tour a bus tour of Niagara Falls Festival Of Lights, just us and the chipper bus driver who thought the reason why some of the candles werent lit on the giant menorah was because they had burned out, spent the last day of the trip in Buffalo together. just the time together was a gift enough for me.

3) 9/13/06 & 10/20/06. Definetly and hayride
I asked her to be mine on 9/13 and Definetly was my answer, right at the bottom of the stairs of Shay Hall, which accompanied a brief but sweet kiss. I dont even remember the walk back to 2nd Rob that night, all I knew was I was the happiest guy on earth. still am. our first date would come a little later in mid october, a haunted hayride in Pumpkinville NY. I always loved the Fall but i love it even more now because i think of us and those early times together. while i played it off that being freaked out was just an excuse to get closer to her, i was freaked the fuck out, i dont do well with horror. I dont care if your Hulk Hogan, if some guy approaches a stopped hayride wagon in the dead of the night, in pitch black and revs up a chain saw, the knee-jerk reaction is to yelp. and yelp i did.

4)  Sabres/Canadiens Friday Feb 6, 2009 Section 100 SEVENTH ROW!!!!
How's that for a birthday gift. while a few months early, that was my gift. me and my hunny. 7 rows from the ice as the Sabres take on one of their biggest rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. had a lovely dinner at Pearl Street Bar & Grill and walked over to HSBC Arena. I looked up at that packed arena and got chills, I had never been that close before and i could deff. get used to it. Sabres won 3-2 but i was happy to have my two favorite things in one place. my hunny and my hockey. a Sabres game remains one of my favorite places to be with her.


5) Truckin Up To Buffalo either the first or second weekend of Dec, 2006, friday night.
This sounds weird but whatever. I loved our day long excursions to Buffalo. usually occured on a saturday. woke up early, got a tasty breakfast from Tim Hortons or Dunkin Donuts and just drove to Buffalo. usually we'd kill all day in the Walden Galleria Mall or in Borders but it was fun. it was our time. it meant we are just not gonna be productive, kill off an entire day in Buffalo, buy shit we dont need (good thing I dont buy like $30 worth of music magazines at one time....OH WAIT, i do) and just have time with each other, like it was truly our day. I love driving together, wherever whenever. just us and the radio.

6) May 17, 2009 Graduation
We did it. Bonas brought us together (thank you, so much) but it was time to leave now. we did it. we graduated. it didnt feel real until we jumped in her car and didnt look back, windows down, hand in hand, gorgeous spring sunday, with the Born To Run album on high. magical. Tramps Like Us.....

I love you Sara Lynn. today. tomorrow. forever. no matter what.

Top 10 Concerts We've Been To Together

1. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, 3-7-08 HSBC Arena Buffalo NY
2. Billy Joel, 4-10-07 HSBC Arena Buffalo NY
3. Dave Matthews Band, 8-14-07 SPAC, Saratoga Springs NY
4. Brooks & Dunn, 10-5-08, Seneca Allegany Casino, Salamanca NY
5. Ace Frehley, 3-1-08, Seneca Niagara Casino, Niagara Falls NY
6. Goo Goo Dolls/Augustana, 3-20-07, Reilly Center Arena, St. Bonaventure NY (*1st concert together)
7. Kenny Chesney 6-4-09, Darien Lake PAC, Darien Center NY
8. Clint Black 4-24-09 Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, Jamestown NY
9. Alan Jackson/Trace Adkins/James Otto, 11-15-08 HSBC Arena, Buffalo NY
10. The Dead/Allman Brothers Band 10-13-08, Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State, State College, PA

John Lennon
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Ringo Starr
1962-70

The most important and perhaps the greatest rock and roll band of all time, The Beatles have re-released their entire discography remastered this past Wednesday. 13 studio albums and another two albums worth of singles that were not featured on the studio albums

**Disclaimer. i know i got at least 2 Stones fans that read this blog occasionally and while i agree with the great felixwasthat if you want to get people on the dance floor the Stones are a better choice but for my taste, if I was stuck on an island with the choice of all The Beatles and all the Stones albums, Id take The Beatles

The Beatles quit at (arguably) the top of their game. Abbey Road and even Let It Be contain musical gems and some of their biggest hits. They couldnt possibly carry on this band anymore and decided to dissolve the group because it just simply wasnt working. While I would give an arm to see the Stones live, they are a mere greatest hits act today. I would kill to hear Dandelion or 2000 Light Years From Home or Play With Fire but most folks are going to hear the big ones and at the prices they charge, they arent at liberty for a doing half of a show of rarities and B-sides

Greatest hits. Aside from those "Red" (1962-66) and "Blue" (1967-70) sets that Apple put out in the 70s (which are great for convenience and driving in the car) and a handful of other cheap attempts at a greatest hits put out back then and the 2000 release of Beatles 1 (collection of all 27 #1 singles, though it should be 29 depending on how you count) it is almost impossible for folks to agree on a single collection of Beatles greatest hits, because the catalouge is so vast and many of peoples' favorites werent hit radio singles. You ask 10 friends to make a 25 song greatest hits CD and you are getting very different choices. I would hand people The Beatles 1 to say ok, here are the big ones, all 27 of them, then id either hand them a disc of personal favorites or just tell them, close your eyes and pick and album and start there, or start at the beginning. There really isnt a bad one in the bunch. The Stones though, most folks can agree on a set of tunes that best represents their body of work at its peak (and what a body of work it is)

The Beatles made albums as complete bodies of work, designed and tracked to be played in order beginning to end, I can listen to Some Girls on shuffle and not feel strange. listen to Revolver on shuffle, cant do it.

Before The Beatles concerts were confined to auditoriums and small hockey arenas. the idea of a rock concert was hardly thought of, Beatles come along and now 30 watt amplifiers which by the standards of yesteryear were deafening, were now insufficient and 100 watt Vox amps were made because you couldnt even hear the band over the hysterics of the crowd. concerts (for better or worse is another story for another day) grew into stadiums and mammoth arenas that resemble the modern day spectacle that they are today. Beatles did it first.

They stopped touring and carried on for 4 years. that is not to be belittled on written off. Take Dave Matthews Band or U2 or Metallica or Springsteen off the road for 4 years but release 5 or 6 albums. unthinkable.

they completely changed their image, they bit the hand that fed them and gave it all up. Dylan got hell for going electric, KISS was laughed all the way into the bank for taking their makeup off, hell some people cant even accept a Sammy Hagar fronted Van Halen. The Beatles reinvented themselves, and people ran right after them.

The Beatles. wow.

I Love The Band. Christ I could listen to Helm, Danko and Manuel all day. Seen Helm and consider myself priviledged but would give an arm to have seen these guys at their peak. 

For the first time since September 1991 I dont have new sneakers to break in.
For the first time since September 1991 I didnt buy a box of pencils
For the first time since September 1991 I dont have to sit and wonder if the teacher will pronounce my last name properly
For the first time since September 1991 I dont have homework (ok fine we didnt get homework in pre-school)
For the first time since September 1991 I'm not going back to school
For the first time since September 1991 Labor Day doesnt mean the official end of summer

these thoughts came to me the other night while having dinner on the enclosed upper deck of our apt with my lady. Its so weird that there is still summer left but until now it seemed like labor day means summer is very over and its time to get back to work. Labor Day from the time i could walk til i left for college meant cook out at grandmas and going to bed early and getting everything ready on tuesday night and trying like hell to fall asleep. I can remember first day of Kindergarten. Ninja Turtles jacket (dont hate) name tag pinned to me just in case I forgot my name or where i lived, cold September day, getting on "the big bus", grandma, my sister and mom at the foot of the driveway. just waiting for that bus to come.

17 Autumns later, I'm done with school. many are feeling sad and down about not going back. albeit it is very very weird not to be going to school or going home to a "great school in Olean NY" as Blitzer so simply and honestly put it. However i maintain my position then as i do now. College was the best 4 years of my life...so far. events happened there and people came into my life that mean the world to me and i wouldnt be the same without. Bonas wasnt just a sprawling landscape of buildings and trees. It was my school. It was our school, and in a way, it will always be my school and our school. I Love St. Bonaventure University and it couldnt possibly give me any more than it already had, starting with my education and my wife-to-be. But its not so much the buildings and the surrounding area that i miss. its the people. the cast of characters that spent 2005-09 (all underclassman pals included) MADE Bonas the special place that it was to me. take that group of people away and part of the magic is gone. It will always be home but without that group of people it cant possibly be the same. it cant be duplicated. only remembered and held dear. Funny thing is I KNOW what a saturday night at Bonaventure means...i KNOW what is going on and what people are up to and im over 10 hrs away, but i just know, and im not there, some friends remain there and some have moved on, but it goes on without us. Thank you St. Bonaventure for giving me what I needed.

all has been good here. weather has been great, our jobs are going well (saved $21 in coupons when grocery shopping) and we are happy here and we had a fun night with Sara's teacher buddies in Fayetville, always look forward to seeing them when we can.

I did however see 3 things this weekend that blow me the fuck away, comment at will.

1) Taylor Swift playing on the in-house stereo at a Chinese resturant
2) a chubby little kid with a skin tight shirt that said "I Read 100 Books....MMMMM I'm Lovin It" (with the golden arches plastered right across his tummy)
3) A child in a highchair no more than 2 that asked the waitress "i have sweet tea now" (at the resturant mentioned in item #1, sweet tea is the house beverage, like water in other resturants, sweet tea is provided FREE)

Enjoy the holiday.

KISS: on Dick Clark's "In Concert" Feb. 21 1974, their 1st TV appearance.



KISS' 2000 Farewell Tour Annoucement (mid Feb, 200). Saw them in Buffalo on 6/24/00. I bought every freakin word of it, thinking it would be the first and last time i would ever see them (Note Peter Criss' giggle of doubt right after Paul says they are here to annouce the farewell tour.)


Missed their tour with Aerosmith in 2003, but they were back in 2004 on the Rock The Nation Tour w/ Poison, saw them at Darien Lake on 7/14/04, thinking this would be the 2nd and last time id get to see them.


Back again in 2009, with Buckcherry, The Sonic Boom Tour, in support of their 19th studio album, Sonic Boom


SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2009 7:30 PM
BI-LO CENTER
GREENVILLE, SC
SECTION 224
ROW J

Thats right, me and my lady will be at KISS & Buckcherry.

I'M GONNA GET TO SEE KISS !!!!! again.

As soon as those dates were announced and tickets went on sale ($75 for a pair, surcharges incl) I knew i had to go. My 3rd time seeing both KISS (00, 04, 09)  and 3rd time seeing Buckcherry (07, 08, 09). Its so weird to have new a new KISS album and tour to be excited about (AND a new Ace Frehley album that comes out Sept. 15) its like being 11 or 12 again when Psycho Circus came out in 1998, Bought up the magazine specials that were all KISS that Metal Edge Magazine used to put out. I can remember picking up the October '98 issue of Guitar World in mid september, (we had family over for my parents anniversary that night....I remember the damnedest things) right before the album came out on 9/22. I absorbed that interview and still have it somewhere, i can virtually recall entire passages after all this time. My mom bought the album for me 2 days later (the free KISS magnet that came with it now adorns the freezer door in our kitchen) and my first (but christ knows not last KISS shirt)  I listened to that album constantly, KISS was everywhere, they appeared on FOX's Millenium, Mad TV, had a 30 min. simulcast of their opening night appearance at Dodger Stadium on Halloween (I struggled not only to scrub the Gene Simmons makeup off i had worn for Halloween but to stay awake for Mad TV and that 3 song simulcast), they appeared at the pregame of the Super Bowl that year and their own coming-of-age comedy Detroit Rock City hit theaters that summer, seems like everyone was talking about my favorite band. they came to Rochester on Sat. Nov 28, 1998 ($36, floor seats were $46) but my parents werent havin it and said i was way too young to be at something like that...

Fast forward a decade. saw them in 2000 and 2004, graduated high school and college, met the woman of a lifertime, got engaged and oh hey, going to see KISS again, with her at my side. This is gonna be one for the ages. Will their be a 4th KISS concert?.............

Work is going fairly well (for both me and Sara) I am a data entry specialist at The Robesonian in Lumberton NC, work a 37 1/2 hour work week and really cant complain. I create, file and place classified ads into the system and i am training in circulation, which entails starting and stopping subscriptions, taking care of papers for folks who go on vacation and taking complaints. this is my first gimpse into the belly of the Newspapers beast, and its interesting at the least and looks like it will be a great learning experience. (Morning Routine consists of: wake up, 30 minute work out, shower, breakfast, watch Married With Children, get dressed in grown up clothes and be at work by 7:15. not bad at all, I'd say)

Sara is still the best 5th grade teacher in North Carolina. nothing to report except how proud I am of her, as we close in on 3 years together.

got a haircut yesterday and spent a wonderful day enjoying and getting fiercely sunburned at Myrtle Beach. The beach is wonderful and i do love the time we spend there. especially the time spend just standing in the middle of the ocean, miles of sand behind us and water surrounding us, its a good time, cant wait to go back.