I've had a busy last few days. How about you? Well, either way, it's time to write something here in this ol' blog's space. You see, I've got much to report, and it'd wrong not to share. I think if I didn't type of some nonsensical paragraphs and call them an entry, I'd be damned to hell. There's that much to say. Yep.
OK, where do we start? Well, normally I would have popped out at least one blog entry this weekend, but my computer pooped out. It just died. Like Walter Cronkite and Frank McCourt. Dead. I even tried CPR, but the ol' hard drive said, "F you, Pat. I'm dead." The thing's under warranty, which means a new hard drive is on the way to the Elm City, but, alas, it'll be a few days. I feel naked without a computer at home. I feel like it's 1996 or something, a time when I never wanted to go online; I just wanted to play outside. Of course, I occasionally do want to use a computer. I'm so lost and confused.
On Wednesday, I went and checked out Man Man, like I said I would. Boy am I glad. I've seen them play about four times before, but this was the best set yet. Daniel Street sounded great and the setlist was varied and alive. And as with any percussion-heavy act, the timing needs to be down cold to work, and this was. Woo hoo.
MT Bearington's opening set even came close to matching that local band's best performance ever, the one where it opened for Mates of State in like March of 2008, I think.
Here's the one question I came away with after Wednesday though: At what point does having fun just become ridiculous? Look, I don't really dance, unless I'm totally trashed and, usually, at a wedding. But I understand some people like to dance at shows. Well, at this gig, there were four 20something women dressed oddly (like Man Man) and dancing completely ridiculously. For a few minutes, it was really funny. For 75 minutes, it was pathetic. They even moved around the venue doing it, making it clear, to me at least, this was a cry for attention. Why do people like to be the center of attention? You're at a show. The band should be the center of attention. It's OK just to have fun and watch. Dance even. But, that? Really?
Yet the best show of the weekend went down Saturday in Northampton. My friend Jay and I took the 75-minute drive across the border into the greatest state in our union to see Magnolia Electric Co. (that's them above), and what a gig. The band sounded, for lack of a more mature word, awesome. They killed. And, of course, the Iron Horse always helps. Great venue. Great band. Great new album. How many times can I use the word "great" in paragraph? You don't want to know.
I also found the time — because it's impossible to put down — to take in Dave Eggers' "Zeitorn." You're going to want to read it. Yep. It's true. Honestly, it's a harrowing and, ultimately, uplifting take on Hurricane Katrina-torn New Orleans. It should be a must read for all, especially those who haven't seen the city since the disaster. And "Benjamin Button" doesn't count.
So let's recount: In the past two weeks, I've been on a very good stretch with books. Besides the Eggers work, I finally got around to reading Joe Torre's book, which was way more interesting than I expected. And then I got through "American-Made," which is really just the story of the New Deal and, more specifically, the WPA. It's been a good run for me. I hope to keep it going when I grab something from "to read" stack tonight.
So, as you can see, besides the Red Sox losing two out of three to the Blue Jays, it was a pretty good weekend. I even watched the wretchedly bad "The Haunting in Connecticut" because, you know, it seems like something I should see.
Oh, one more thing, we've got a good run of concerts coming up. I'll write more as the week progresses, but, come on, you have to be at Cafe Nine Wednesday and The Space Thursday. It'll just look bad if you're not there.
Since I just mentioned Thursday, here's Providence's Deer Tick performing "Art isn't Real" in a random kitchen in Providence. Enjoy it. You can see it live Thursday. Yep.
OK, where do we start? Well, normally I would have popped out at least one blog entry this weekend, but my computer pooped out. It just died. Like Walter Cronkite and Frank McCourt. Dead. I even tried CPR, but the ol' hard drive said, "F you, Pat. I'm dead." The thing's under warranty, which means a new hard drive is on the way to the Elm City, but, alas, it'll be a few days. I feel naked without a computer at home. I feel like it's 1996 or something, a time when I never wanted to go online; I just wanted to play outside. Of course, I occasionally do want to use a computer. I'm so lost and confused.
On Wednesday, I went and checked out Man Man, like I said I would. Boy am I glad. I've seen them play about four times before, but this was the best set yet. Daniel Street sounded great and the setlist was varied and alive. And as with any percussion-heavy act, the timing needs to be down cold to work, and this was. Woo hoo.
MT Bearington's opening set even came close to matching that local band's best performance ever, the one where it opened for Mates of State in like March of 2008, I think.
Here's the one question I came away with after Wednesday though: At what point does having fun just become ridiculous? Look, I don't really dance, unless I'm totally trashed and, usually, at a wedding. But I understand some people like to dance at shows. Well, at this gig, there were four 20something women dressed oddly (like Man Man) and dancing completely ridiculously. For a few minutes, it was really funny. For 75 minutes, it was pathetic. They even moved around the venue doing it, making it clear, to me at least, this was a cry for attention. Why do people like to be the center of attention? You're at a show. The band should be the center of attention. It's OK just to have fun and watch. Dance even. But, that? Really?
Yet the best show of the weekend went down Saturday in Northampton. My friend Jay and I took the 75-minute drive across the border into the greatest state in our union to see Magnolia Electric Co. (that's them above), and what a gig. The band sounded, for lack of a more mature word, awesome. They killed. And, of course, the Iron Horse always helps. Great venue. Great band. Great new album. How many times can I use the word "great" in paragraph? You don't want to know.
I also found the time — because it's impossible to put down — to take in Dave Eggers' "Zeitorn." You're going to want to read it. Yep. It's true. Honestly, it's a harrowing and, ultimately, uplifting take on Hurricane Katrina-torn New Orleans. It should be a must read for all, especially those who haven't seen the city since the disaster. And "Benjamin Button" doesn't count.
So let's recount: In the past two weeks, I've been on a very good stretch with books. Besides the Eggers work, I finally got around to reading Joe Torre's book, which was way more interesting than I expected. And then I got through "American-Made," which is really just the story of the New Deal and, more specifically, the WPA. It's been a good run for me. I hope to keep it going when I grab something from "to read" stack tonight.
So, as you can see, besides the Red Sox losing two out of three to the Blue Jays, it was a pretty good weekend. I even watched the wretchedly bad "The Haunting in Connecticut" because, you know, it seems like something I should see.
Oh, one more thing, we've got a good run of concerts coming up. I'll write more as the week progresses, but, come on, you have to be at Cafe Nine Wednesday and The Space Thursday. It'll just look bad if you're not there.
Since I just mentioned Thursday, here's Providence's Deer Tick performing "Art isn't Real" in a random kitchen in Providence. Enjoy it. You can see it live Thursday. Yep.
2 comments:
Wow. Eerie.
I too read the Eggers book over this past weekend. I can't tell whether he's a quirky guy with streaks of genius, or a genius who's seriously quirky. Discuss amongst yourselves.
I'm now reading "Let te Great World Spin" by Colum McCann. Loving it. Quite melancholy in spots. Highly recommended, and bonus points if you watch "Man on Wire" before or after reading. Discuss.
Frank McCourt. Met him once when I "chauffered" him to a reading he was doing. A kind and funny man, who, um..did like a pint or two.
Your Daniel Street story struck a chord. First, if they were dancing around Daniel Street, they probably knocked over several bar stools and patrons. I sometimes love their line up, but the place is too small, by half. Second, when is it appropriate to exercise YOUR civil rights as a paying patron and to tell the assinine fax bohemians (or fobo's as we call them) to CUT IT THE #@&! OUT. I have much the same reaction when the audience around wishes to loudly sing along with a band. Um...hey, we're all entitled, but I did PAY TO HEAR THE BAND.
Sorry about that.
Told you that you struck a nerve.
P.S.
Last night, in good ole NYC, I saw the new rom com, "500 Days of Summer" and - DIDN'T hate it! Actually, kind of liked it. That kid from "Third Rock" is good (though it sounds like someone dubbed a deeper voice in him), and - yes - I'll say it - me likey that Zooey Deschanel. True, she is FoBo, but minxy FoBo - so - me love her long time, Mr. Pat.
That's all for now.
Do not foresake we lonely bloggers during vacation. Not that you haven't earned the right. We'd just prefer you waive the right. For now.
i went forever with no internet at phone, and now? forget it. i would cry and be sad. like going back to the times with no cable tv - a mere year ago.
thanks for the reading recs! i just got the third book in the glass books of the dream eaters series, which is not at all something i'd usually read, but it was a gift. and once i did read the first, naturally i had to read the second. the third was kind of an inevitability.
1996. ah, AOL. such memories of being "eliben96."
Post a Comment