The slings and arrows of daily political life are what they are, and don't change much from day to day. Some days I handle them better than others but on the whole I think I've gotten better at keeping my equilibrium. Recent events that haven't had the effect they might have include Congress being ...

Not sure where this should go so I guess that means it goes here. Excellent column in the WaPo today about the joys of music, its place in our lives and its ability to link families and generations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/21/music-brings-families-together/?utm_campaign=wp_to...

After a long interruption, I was finally able to finish Reacher. I was disappointed. Violence and overcoming daunting physical odds are certainly part of the Reacher character and mystique but if that's all there was, he'd be no different than a thousand other characters. What makes him special are ...

As you may know I am a huge fan of Professor Heather Cox Richardson and her substack blog. But even so, her most recent column, the one dated 2/21 is outstanding. Her ability to synthesize apparently disparate events and to weave the big picture story from the many small picture events that take mos...

hey BtB, i saw a facebook post that eerily mirrored yours: I had to go back to work while I'm here in Portland and I just got my benefits package. I'm an RN and the hospital I work for owns the health insurer that runs the plans (kind of like Kaiser but not quite). To insure my family (medical, den...

Finished up True Detective: Night Country last night and really enjoyed it. Jody Foster is an amazing actress and I wouldn't be surprised to see her win some awards for her performance. A big THANK YOU must go out to the Ringer for its obsessive coverage of the show which helped me to understand (a...

But the one constant, the one that just doesn't go away and sets me off every time are the never ending go fund me appeals for medical emergencies. Let me be clear: I am NOT complaining about the asks. What frosts me is that they continue to be necessary. This is so outrageous, so heartbreaking, so...

Teenage Fanclub is doing a major North American tour in April and May. Stops Brooklyn, Boston, DC, Chicago, Minny, Toronto, Denver, Portland, Seattle, SF and LA. Pre sale tix available now.

The slings and arrows of daily political life are what they are, and don't change much from day to day. Some days I handle them better than others but on the whole I think I've gotten better at keeping my equilibrium. Recent events that haven't had the effect they might have include Congress being o...

Mr. & Mrs. Smith - liked the movie so figured I'd give it a shot. First episode had enough good things to make us want to continue. The second episode was a big step down, leaving it up to the 3rd episode to determine if we would continue. That would be a big, fat, very loud NO. Terrible. The pacing...

i assume it's no surprise to anyone that my dead* son, Bryan, is always with me, but sometimes he's more with me than at other times and this week has been one of those "more" times, so this 38 word capsule review is dedicated to the memory of Bryan Max Bernfeld : I have come to realize that almost...

2. Though it gets a little fratty late at night, The Roadhouse has become our group's go-to pre-game spot. Not only is the beer cheap and cold, but they actually had a Knoxville band playing last night that we knew. Shoutout to High Heat. 3. I didn't get out to eat as much as I usually do, but the ...

My understanding based on incomplete knowledge is that the weekend's activities raised about $64K for Nuci's Space. PS While I paid less attention to the demographics this year than i have in the past, my impression is that the encouraging trend towards a younger more female audience that I identif...

No "Zip City." Gotta be a rarity for a post-SRO rock show. There was that one stretch, i want to say in the mid-2010's when Cooley dropped it from the set for a few months. But other than that, 2 zipless shows in a row is fairly rare i think. Just one Zip City and one Where the Devil Don't Stay, bu...

tinnitus photography wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 19, 2024 1:00 pm

Buddy Miles - Them Changes

Wow, nice one. Going way back in the time machine.

PS While I paid less attention to the demographics this year than i have in the past, my impression is that the encouraging trend towards a younger more female audience that I identified previously seems to be over. The audiences at this week's shows seemed to be back to the usual plurality or majo...

I will be the first to admit that I don't know anything about the traditional African American Protestant Church in America, but I feel like the bond between band and audience, the constant ratcheting up of excitement, energy and an almost religious epiphany that raised the roof is very similar to ...

i assume it's no surprise to anyone that my dead* son, Bryan, is always with me, but sometimes he's more with me than at other times and this week has been one of those "more" times, so this 38 word capsule review is dedicated to the memory of Bryan Max Bernfeld : I have come to realize that almost ...

cortez the killer wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 17, 2024 6:52 pm

No "Zip City." Gotta be a rarity for a post-SRO rock show.

There was that one stretch, i want to say in the mid-2010's when Cooley dropped it from the set for a few months. But other than that, 2 zipless shows in a row is fairly rare i think.

About 5 or 6 songs into the Truckers' set i caught a flash of something in my peripheral vision, looked to the right and saw a shock of silver/white hair and a longish silver/white beard. For just that half second I thought "Good, Rod's here..." :( So this 7 word review is in memory of the much miss...

Mundane Mayhem wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 16, 2024 3:45 pm

Anyone got a setlist?

A VERY good question. Ahem, ahem. You know who you are.

Yeah, I woke up this morning thinking "oh no, I forgot 'Wallace'!" Definitely a surprise and probably a first for just about everyone in the audience. Folks were buzzing about it afterwards.

I have learned not to go down the rabbit hole of what's "a Thursday show" v. "a Saturday show" and the like. There are common elements to most shows but there are also differences which endlessly renews the experience and leads to the mantra, "always go to the show." It was a barnburner tonight. Pat...

I know Bubba's review of Thursday night will be much more eloquent, but here's mine: Holy Fucking Shit! Damn, scotto, throwing down the gauntlet. That's a tough, accurate act to follow. I'll start with the 10 word review, tonight in honor of ponygirl, wherever she may be: The band was on fire and t...

Mundane Mayhem wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 15, 2024 4:47 pm

Your New Yorker is showing, bubba.

I knew I would hear about it from someone, I just didn't know who.

Is there a meet up this evening before the show? I am not aware of anything specific but there will always be heAthens in 2 places: On line at the 40 Watt, usually starting at least an hour before doors (It starts earlier as the weekend moves along) and flicker bar where people tend to drift in and...

PS The show clocked in at a very generous 3+ hours.

Last night was a fun evening. It was obviously going to be different than a DBT homecoming show and it was. Just about everyone I spoke to liked the idea of starting earlier in the evening and "easing into" the weekend with something a little "lighter" and more informal (not that the rock show is ex...

Special 12 word review for Clams:

"Space City." Mercy 'Buckets." Do i really need to say anything else?

To the surprise of no one i'm sure, i will say more either later tonight if I can't sleep or in the morning.

Beaverdam wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 14, 2024 11:17 pm

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t missing Smitty!!!!

Fuck yeah. Especially, for me, during Pauline Hawkins.