I almost didn't go to the Idlewild show last night. Franz Ferdinand was also playing at another venue, and I debated for a long time which to attend. Plus, I knew I was going to have a rough day at work today, and the show didn't even start until 9 PM. The option I chose was to take a long nap when I got home from work yesterday, and then head down to see Idlewild. Boy, I'm glad I did.
The venue was a little club in downtown Salt Lake called The Velvet Room. It was small, but there were only about 60 people there, so it didn't really matter. There were two opening acts. The first was a local band called The Washington Generals. They had a female singer and had a nice little rock sound. The second opener was Inara George. Besides having a voice as sweet as candy and being stunningly attractive, she spun some seriously catchy indie-rock tunes. So catchy, in fact, that I was persuaded to pick up her album after the show (which she even signed for me).
Idlewild finally came out and played for just over an hour. They played selections from all four of their albums, which are all pretty different from each other. "Hope Is Important," their first, was kinda like "Bleach"-era Kurt Cobain meets "Pinkerton"-era Rivers Cuomo. Their second album, "100 Broken Windows," was like they added Michael Stipe to the mix. "The Remote Part" and "Warnings/Promises" were both all over the place, but definitely had their merrit.
Roddy Woomble had some funny between-song banter, and thanked us all especially for choosing them over their fellow Scotsmen, Franz Ferdinand. Just to make us all feel better, they played a short snippet of "Take Me Out."
I was hoping they'd play a little longer, especially from the first two records, but I was still thrilled to get to see them live. As an encore, they performed a cover of The Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated." Have I mentioned how much I love live music?
Other than getting to see Idlewild, one of the highlights of the evening was a chance meeting with Jon and Heather Armstrong, the creators of Blurbomat and Dooce, respectively. I've been reading their sites for over two years, now, and it was great to put voices with their words. They were both very nice and not at all freaked out when I approached them. We had a nice conversation about Utah and the military and other random goings-on. I love meeting cool new people.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
I sound like such a chick.
When I went home in June, I gained about 12 pounds. Considering I couldn't really run and everyone was buying me lunch or dinner or midnight snacks over a three week period, I figure that's not too shabby. Well, this morning's daily weigh-in revealed I'm back to my pre-vacation weight. This is the lightest I've been since basic training. Boy, I could just float away at any moment.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Love Steals Us From Loneliness
This weekend has been really mellow. Friday night consisted of purchasing a new DVD player and a nice phone conversation with Paul. Saturday, after going for a run, I installed the DVD player, which, thanks to Ryan's extremely complicated home theatre system, took a VERY long time.
It's kinda weird how if I don't hang out with anyone for a while, I get a little down. And when I start to get down like that, I just want to be by myself, even though the only thing that can remedy it is social interaction. Johnny, a guy in my shop, had invited me to a party at his house last night, and I seriously considered not going. I think the deciding factor was when Aubrey, Johnny's wife, called and told me what time everything started, and that they had bought some vegetables to grill especially for me.
I know my personality, and I know I crave to be around people. My relationship with God is strong, and I know I'll never truly be by myself. I like to think of myself as a pretty strong person, but we all have our weaknesses. Some people have chemical dependencies. Others are deceitful or can't control their sexual urges. I guess my curse in this life is the weakness of loneliness.
By the way, I had a great time at the party last night.
It's kinda weird how if I don't hang out with anyone for a while, I get a little down. And when I start to get down like that, I just want to be by myself, even though the only thing that can remedy it is social interaction. Johnny, a guy in my shop, had invited me to a party at his house last night, and I seriously considered not going. I think the deciding factor was when Aubrey, Johnny's wife, called and told me what time everything started, and that they had bought some vegetables to grill especially for me.
I know my personality, and I know I crave to be around people. My relationship with God is strong, and I know I'll never truly be by myself. I like to think of myself as a pretty strong person, but we all have our weaknesses. Some people have chemical dependencies. Others are deceitful or can't control their sexual urges. I guess my curse in this life is the weakness of loneliness.
By the way, I had a great time at the party last night.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Bombs Away
Green Day has been around for several years, but didn't really make it into the mainstream until 1994. I tried to resist, but the catchiness (and truthfulness) of "Longview" was just too persuasive. From then on, "Dookie" became a staple in my CD player (and it still is today). I was kinda worried when "Insomniac" didn't live up to expectations. Even more so when "Nimrod" and "Warning" pretty much reeked. Then, when Green Day released a greatest hits compilation, which is pretty much a tombstone for a punk band, I had all but dismissed them entirely.
Then, "American Idiot" came out.
Green Day got political and reminded us they still have the spunkiness of "Kerplunk" and the fun of "Dookie." They played the Delta Center in SLC last night, and Caleb and I had tickets on the floor.
But first thing's first. Jimmy Eat World opened. They were energetic, and they sounded good, too. Their music is tuneful and fun to sing along with. They played songs from their two most recent albums, which are probably their best. My only complaint is they only played for 30 minutes. Seven songs and they were done. A little disappointing.
After that, there was a brief set change, and then a guy in a big pink bunny outfit came out and flirted with everyone for a few minutes. I guess this was their way of telling us the show was going to be interesting, to say the least.
Then the whole place went dark, and Billie Joe, Mike, and Tre exploded onto the stage, launching into "American Idiot," with plenty of lights and fire to spare. The set started out primarily with tracks from the "American Idiot" album, and at first, I thought they were going to play the album in its entirety. I've heard what a great show Green Day puts on, and they definitely lived up to my expectations. They worked the crowd amazingly well, and they were heavy on the pyrotechnics.
You can see in this picture how close we were to the stage. I'm not one to hog space, so after I got a few pictures, I backed off a bit to let other people touch Billie Joe. Yeah, I'm just that considerate.
In the middle of their set, Billie Joe pulled up three random kids out of the crowd to play the band's instrumments, one of which was a female. He gave the girl his guitar and told her what chords to play, and she played just fine. The three of them performed like their own punk band. After the song, he gave the girl his guitar, and told the bassist to do a big stage dive. It was great.
Since Caleb and I were on the floor in a sea of people, we did what most normal people do at rock concerts - crowd surf. Well, apparently, at the fascist venue of the Delta Center, that's not acceptable behavior. I was wrestled to the floor by a big security guard and told that I would be thrown out if I did it again and to "stay the fuck off people." Oh, well. Every party needs a pooper, right?
Since Green Day have become so radio-friendly, it was understandable that there were lots of teeny-boppers there, and I can handle that. It's annoying, but I'll live. What surprised me were the amount of less-than-ten-year-olds there. Come on, parents! At least provide them with ear plugs!
Anyway, Green Day played for over two hours, which is impressive considering how hyper they were. And if a person can sing punk songs for that long, that means they've got some serious vocal chords. And they sounded GOOD, too, which is rare in punk shows. So, overall, this was definitely one of the most purely fun shows I've seen, and it was great to rock out with Caleb, too. If you get a chance to see Green Day, do it, but don't forget your ear plugs!
Then, "American Idiot" came out.
Green Day got political and reminded us they still have the spunkiness of "Kerplunk" and the fun of "Dookie." They played the Delta Center in SLC last night, and Caleb and I had tickets on the floor.
But first thing's first. Jimmy Eat World opened. They were energetic, and they sounded good, too. Their music is tuneful and fun to sing along with. They played songs from their two most recent albums, which are probably their best. My only complaint is they only played for 30 minutes. Seven songs and they were done. A little disappointing.
After that, there was a brief set change, and then a guy in a big pink bunny outfit came out and flirted with everyone for a few minutes. I guess this was their way of telling us the show was going to be interesting, to say the least.
Then the whole place went dark, and Billie Joe, Mike, and Tre exploded onto the stage, launching into "American Idiot," with plenty of lights and fire to spare. The set started out primarily with tracks from the "American Idiot" album, and at first, I thought they were going to play the album in its entirety. I've heard what a great show Green Day puts on, and they definitely lived up to my expectations. They worked the crowd amazingly well, and they were heavy on the pyrotechnics.
You can see in this picture how close we were to the stage. I'm not one to hog space, so after I got a few pictures, I backed off a bit to let other people touch Billie Joe. Yeah, I'm just that considerate.
In the middle of their set, Billie Joe pulled up three random kids out of the crowd to play the band's instrumments, one of which was a female. He gave the girl his guitar and told her what chords to play, and she played just fine. The three of them performed like their own punk band. After the song, he gave the girl his guitar, and told the bassist to do a big stage dive. It was great.
Since Caleb and I were on the floor in a sea of people, we did what most normal people do at rock concerts - crowd surf. Well, apparently, at the fascist venue of the Delta Center, that's not acceptable behavior. I was wrestled to the floor by a big security guard and told that I would be thrown out if I did it again and to "stay the fuck off people." Oh, well. Every party needs a pooper, right?
Since Green Day have become so radio-friendly, it was understandable that there were lots of teeny-boppers there, and I can handle that. It's annoying, but I'll live. What surprised me were the amount of less-than-ten-year-olds there. Come on, parents! At least provide them with ear plugs!
Anyway, Green Day played for over two hours, which is impressive considering how hyper they were. And if a person can sing punk songs for that long, that means they've got some serious vocal chords. And they sounded GOOD, too, which is rare in punk shows. So, overall, this was definitely one of the most purely fun shows I've seen, and it was great to rock out with Caleb, too. If you get a chance to see Green Day, do it, but don't forget your ear plugs!
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Hand
I can't stand it when my friends are hurting. I want to help. I want to listen. I want to cry with you. You've helped me through so much, and I want to do the same for you.
It may be bad now,
and I don't know what to do,
but everything is going to be alright.
I promise.
It may be bad now,
and I don't know what to do,
but everything is going to be alright.
I promise.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Finagled
When I was in Japan, the only video rental place was on base, and it was rather pathetic, to say the least. They rarely had any kind of decent movies, especially independent ones, and what they did get usually arrived months after it was actually released. So, I got in the habit of just purchasing anything I wanted to see online. Over time, I've acquired quite a collection of DVDs, but I've realised I don't really watch them very often. Therefore, last night, I joined the ranks of thousands of others and got a membership to Blockbuster. I hate supporting a corporation that has such a monopoly on movie rental, but there aren't any locally-owned video stores around here at all.
I'm always reluctant to sign up for anything requiring a "membership," especially for something as trivial as movie rental. I've spent several minutes reading all the terms and conditions outlined in my little membership brochure, and even went to their website, but there are so many details that seem really vague. I'm great about returning library books on time, and I doubt I'll have any trouble with DVDs, but somehow, someway, they're gonna screw me out of some money.
I'm always reluctant to sign up for anything requiring a "membership," especially for something as trivial as movie rental. I've spent several minutes reading all the terms and conditions outlined in my little membership brochure, and even went to their website, but there are so many details that seem really vague. I'm great about returning library books on time, and I doubt I'll have any trouble with DVDs, but somehow, someway, they're gonna screw me out of some money.
Sweets to the Sweet
So we were at Denny's on Friday night, and Eli, my Dad's riding buddy, ordered the fudge brownie a la mode for dessert at the same time we ordered our meal. We were waiting for our food, and our waitress brought out Eli's brownie before anything else. The three of us looked at each other quizzically.
Eli: So, they eat dessert first around here?
Waitress: Yeah, our manager says to bring it out first unless people say not to.
Dad: Really? Isn't that kind of strange?
Waitress: I dunno. He says we keep forgetting to bring people their desserts, so this is supposed to take care of it.
Eli, Dad, & Me (in unison): Hmmmmmmm.
Eli: So, they eat dessert first around here?
Waitress: Yeah, our manager says to bring it out first unless people say not to.
Dad: Really? Isn't that kind of strange?
Waitress: I dunno. He says we keep forgetting to bring people their desserts, so this is supposed to take care of it.
Eli, Dad, & Me (in unison): Hmmmmmmm.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Boys and Their Toys
Dad made it into town at about 10:30 Friday night. With him was his buddy Eli. Another guy, Mike, started out with them, but only made it as far as Cheyenne. Anyway, we grabbed some food at Denny's and then hit the sack.
Saturday morning, we had breakfast, and then I took Dad and Eli to the Hill Aerospace Museum, which is totally up Dad's alley. We walked around for several hours and saw tons of planes, including an F-4, which is the kind of plane my Dad primarily worked on when he was in the Air Force back in the 60s.
After that, we went down to Salt Lake because they wanted to visit the BMW Motorcycle dealership. I also gave them a drive-by tour of Temple Square.
After that, we went back up to Ogden for a late lunch, and then hiked Waterfall Canyon. It was a beautiful hike and we had a great time. By the way, one of the most embarrasing things ever is when you're Dad's friend asks you about your sex life...in front of your Dad. Thanks, Eli!
After all that, we were pretty tired, so we headed back to the hotel and waited for Don and his son, Mark, to show up. They did the same ride as Dad and Eli, but they had to start a day later because of work.
This morning, we got up and had breakfast and then they all packed up their bikes. Dad and Eli are headed back to Kentucky, but Don and Mark are on their way to Oregon for business.
The added bonus is that my Mom made some cookies for me and sent them with Dad. Now, I know I'm probably going to get a lot of debate by saying this, but my Mom bakes the best cookies EVER. Don't argue with me. I know it's true, so just SHUT IT!
Saturday morning, we had breakfast, and then I took Dad and Eli to the Hill Aerospace Museum, which is totally up Dad's alley. We walked around for several hours and saw tons of planes, including an F-4, which is the kind of plane my Dad primarily worked on when he was in the Air Force back in the 60s.
After that, we went down to Salt Lake because they wanted to visit the BMW Motorcycle dealership. I also gave them a drive-by tour of Temple Square.
After that, we went back up to Ogden for a late lunch, and then hiked Waterfall Canyon. It was a beautiful hike and we had a great time. By the way, one of the most embarrasing things ever is when you're Dad's friend asks you about your sex life...in front of your Dad. Thanks, Eli!
After all that, we were pretty tired, so we headed back to the hotel and waited for Don and his son, Mark, to show up. They did the same ride as Dad and Eli, but they had to start a day later because of work.
This morning, we got up and had breakfast and then they all packed up their bikes. Dad and Eli are headed back to Kentucky, but Don and Mark are on their way to Oregon for business.
The added bonus is that my Mom made some cookies for me and sent them with Dad. Now, I know I'm probably going to get a lot of debate by saying this, but my Mom bakes the best cookies EVER. Don't argue with me. I know it's true, so just SHUT IT!
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Easy Rider
My Dad is coming into town tonight. He and four of his buddies are riding their motorcycles all the way from Kentucky to Utah IN ONE DAY! They're all members of this club called the Iron Butt Association. For this particular run, they're riding 1500 miles in a 24-hour period. They've also done a ride from coast to coast (Jacksonville, FL to San Diego, CA) in 50 hours (Dad did it in 47h 11m!). Needless to say, Dad sure likes riding his bike. They left at midnight last night, and they should be here around 10 PM tonight. I'm excited to see him, but I'm sure he's gonna want to sleep for a while. Oh, and they're leaving Sunday night to do the same thing on the way back home. Crazy old men.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Right In Time
Lucinda Williams plays country music, but not that cheesy Shania-Garthy country. More like rootsy alt-country. Her music is rare, bare, and real. Her lyrics are raw and intimate, sometimes painful, and always authentic. She's such a perfectionist that she sometimes spends six years working on an album, but regardless, each one sounds effortless.
Lucinda played Kingsbury Hall last night, and the show was sensational. She played for nearly three hours and included plenty of ballads and new material. She was tender and emotional without being sappy, and her voice was perfectly imperfect, if that's possible. The crowd was older and included almost as many lesbians as the Tori Amos show, but you could tell how much everyone appreciated her set. Plus, I like to think she sang the song "Over Time" just for me.
So, even if you aren't a fan of country music (I'm not, either), go out and pick up one of her albums. You'll be glad you did.
Lucinda played Kingsbury Hall last night, and the show was sensational. She played for nearly three hours and included plenty of ballads and new material. She was tender and emotional without being sappy, and her voice was perfectly imperfect, if that's possible. The crowd was older and included almost as many lesbians as the Tori Amos show, but you could tell how much everyone appreciated her set. Plus, I like to think she sang the song "Over Time" just for me.
So, even if you aren't a fan of country music (I'm not, either), go out and pick up one of her albums. You'll be glad you did.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Flatmate Farewell
Before Ryan came to Utah, he was already contacting people to ask if he could deploy as soon as possible. After his arrival, he was told that he wouldn't be going on this rotation, so he decided to take some leave. He drove separately to Vegas last weekend, and while Caleb and I came back to Utah, Ryan headed east. His intention was to drive from Arizona to Texas to Colorado to visit various friends and family. Well, no such luck. One of the guys scheduled to deploy was injured, so they called Ryan back off leave. He got back Sunday night, and he leaves tomorrow to spend four months in our old stomping grounds of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. If you have to go to the desert, then Qatar is the place to go. It's really been built up since we were there over two years ago. It's practically a resort (dorms, Olympic size swimming pool, stadium seating movie theatre, Subway, Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut, etc.). Plus, it's about the safest place to be over there. Regardless, please keep him in your prayers.
As for me, I guess it's back to riding to work by myself and walking around the place naked.
As for me, I guess it's back to riding to work by myself and walking around the place naked.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Words to Sell
Interpol has been one of my favourite bands for a couple years now, and last night was their show at Kingsbury Hall on the Universtity of Utah campus down in SLC. I've been anticipating this show for a while now, and it was definitely one of the highlights of all the shows I've seen since I've lived in Utah. Interpol's post-punk tunes are dark, yet somehow uplifting. Paul, the lead vocalist, has a range similar to mine, so I have no problem singing along in my truck. Plus, they all wear suits, and it definitely helps to be well dressed.
The opening band was called The Double. They were kind of experimental new rock, and they used lots of distortion, a moog synthesizer, and even an autoharp. Different, but good.
As for Interpol's set, I just stood there in awe for 90 minutes. It was that good. It was basically like putting both of their albums in the CD player and hitting 'shuffle,' though the first half concentrated on their second album. The crowd was full of little urban-hipster college students, and they were all as dazed as I was. The band presented such a dark, wonderful realm to present their music, and I was happy to be in attendance.
The opening band was called The Double. They were kind of experimental new rock, and they used lots of distortion, a moog synthesizer, and even an autoharp. Different, but good.
As for Interpol's set, I just stood there in awe for 90 minutes. It was that good. It was basically like putting both of their albums in the CD player and hitting 'shuffle,' though the first half concentrated on their second album. The crowd was full of little urban-hipster college students, and they were all as dazed as I was. The band presented such a dark, wonderful realm to present their music, and I was happy to be in attendance.
Monday, September 12, 2005
At Last
It's been mostly overcast all weekend, and it rained all morning. But a few minutes ago, the clouds parted to reveal...
SNOW
on the mountains!
Ah, this is such a good sign.
SNOW
on the mountains!
Ah, this is such a good sign.
Knotty
Saturday night, there wasn't too much going on, so people came over here and we had pizza and beer and chatted for a while. Then we decided to play Twister, which was more fun than I remember it usually being.
Yes, this is actually a picture of Caleb biting my ass.
After Twister, we sat around and chatted for a while. Whenever the Wendt brother drink together, they usually start telling stories from their adventurous childhood. They started to demonstrate some kind of secret handshake, which ended up becoming a three way thumb wrestling match.
Sometimes, just having friends over and chilling out can be more fun than going out bar-hopping.
Yes, this is actually a picture of Caleb biting my ass.
After Twister, we sat around and chatted for a while. Whenever the Wendt brother drink together, they usually start telling stories from their adventurous childhood. They started to demonstrate some kind of secret handshake, which ended up becoming a three way thumb wrestling match.
Sometimes, just having friends over and chilling out can be more fun than going out bar-hopping.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Sanguine
Sometimes I wonder how long it will be before the whole September 11th thing loses its sting. I don't live in New York, nor did I know anyone who died in the attacks, but I still think about those nightmarish visions from that day. I can't imagine what it must feel like to have lost a mother or brother or best friend.
Though the circumstances surrounding the two are totally different, I wonder if the next generation will feel about 9/11 the way my generation feels about Pearl Harbour. It was a horrible loss of life, and even though I've seen footage and pictures from that day, it still doesn't have the same impact as a picture of the Pentagon with a big hole in the side. I'm curious what my grandparents, who have lived through both tragedies, think about it. Several people compare the two, but I've talked with Japanese people who are offended by that comparison. I guess I can see why.
Anyway, I guess my whole position is just to keep looking hopefully at the future, while not forgetting the past. History doesn't repeat itself, but we can learn from our mistakes. There's just too much suffering going on to not have any hope. Things may get worse before they get better. But they will get better.
Though the circumstances surrounding the two are totally different, I wonder if the next generation will feel about 9/11 the way my generation feels about Pearl Harbour. It was a horrible loss of life, and even though I've seen footage and pictures from that day, it still doesn't have the same impact as a picture of the Pentagon with a big hole in the side. I'm curious what my grandparents, who have lived through both tragedies, think about it. Several people compare the two, but I've talked with Japanese people who are offended by that comparison. I guess I can see why.
Anyway, I guess my whole position is just to keep looking hopefully at the future, while not forgetting the past. History doesn't repeat itself, but we can learn from our mistakes. There's just too much suffering going on to not have any hope. Things may get worse before they get better. But they will get better.
When it rains, it pours.
I had another good first date today. Well, it wasn't really a date. Just afternoon coffee. Very casual, but the conversation was great. I love that feeling of just getting to know someone. So new and different and exciting. If you've ever heard the song "New" by No Doubt, that's how I'm feeling right now. I'm probably getting all excited over nothing, but it's just nice to have such nice conversation with someone on the same level. There will definitely be a second date.
In other news, it turned cold today. Not bitter cold, but it dropped several degrees. We had some rain last night, and I think that's what did it. It's about 58 degrees now, and tonights lows are supposed to drop into the 30s. I like it. I mean, I love the summer and all, but I think anytime a new season is starting to arrive, it's always a welcome change. There really isn't a season I don't like. They're all special in their own way, and they all have the tendency to spark up great memories.
In other news, it turned cold today. Not bitter cold, but it dropped several degrees. We had some rain last night, and I think that's what did it. It's about 58 degrees now, and tonights lows are supposed to drop into the 30s. I like it. I mean, I love the summer and all, but I think anytime a new season is starting to arrive, it's always a welcome change. There really isn't a season I don't like. They're all special in their own way, and they all have the tendency to spark up great memories.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
So you want to be entertained?
"The Woods"
by
Sleater-Kinney
I've been a pretty big Sleater-Kinney fan since 1997. I had read a lot about their album "Dig Me Out," and decided to buy it. I listened to it on repeat for pretty much my entire first drive from Kentucky to Vegas. Since then, I've purchased all seven of their albums and loved every one.
Their latest was released in May, and it represents a big departure for the trio. Previously, they rocked out riot-grrrl style with politically charged punk anthems. With this record, they're on a new label with a new producer, and it seems like they've been listening to a lot of old Zeppelin. You'd think going from punk to classic rock would be awkward, but Carrie, Corin, and Janet handle it with ease. So well, in fact, that it makes their previous albums sound dated. Every track is spectacular, though highlights include the rambunctious "What's Mine Is Yours" and "Rollercoaster." "The Woods" isn't an easy listen, but it's a rewarding one.
by
Sleater-Kinney
I've been a pretty big Sleater-Kinney fan since 1997. I had read a lot about their album "Dig Me Out," and decided to buy it. I listened to it on repeat for pretty much my entire first drive from Kentucky to Vegas. Since then, I've purchased all seven of their albums and loved every one.
Their latest was released in May, and it represents a big departure for the trio. Previously, they rocked out riot-grrrl style with politically charged punk anthems. With this record, they're on a new label with a new producer, and it seems like they've been listening to a lot of old Zeppelin. You'd think going from punk to classic rock would be awkward, but Carrie, Corin, and Janet handle it with ease. So well, in fact, that it makes their previous albums sound dated. Every track is spectacular, though highlights include the rambunctious "What's Mine Is Yours" and "Rollercoaster." "The Woods" isn't an easy listen, but it's a rewarding one.
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