Friday, June 27, 2008

This ain't about regret

Forgotten Disc Friday awaits your visit.

This week, a very much welcome, and LONG overdue entry from
Dim.

Thanks as always for reading (or clicking over) and have a nice weekend.

-march

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Two Shows in Two Days

For readers of this blog you may be a tad disappointed that these are short bursts, but I wanted to get em up sooner than later. I hope to return to both, with more thoughts and images etc..

Sunday night I went to see:



Yep, Stevie Wonder. I had great seats and due to time a few quick things...

- Stevie fronted 13 people in the band. He still has it, and has an amazing stage persona.

- Two Hours and twenty minutes, almost all non stop.

- Diverse crowd. I was up pretty close and we sort of did the whole "catholic mass" thing with all the stand up/sit down. We stood when he came out, but sat for his opening tune "As If you Read My Mind". When "Higher Ground" came up 2-3 songs later I was up. We'd still go up and down a few times, but come the tail end of the set we stayed up.

- Down side was the "contest winner" at the end of the show. See the boston.com link below. It sums it all up my thoughts.

One more image for now...



There is a longer review of the show on Boston.com.

Then....

Last night I headed down to The Grant in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to see the Chicago band Dianogah. The place was super small, and very intimate as you'd imagine but the picture. My back was up against the wall.



The guys signed my cd and were all around a great crew. I'll have more on this too...

I hope/plan to update more on both..this is the only day of the week I am in front of a computer (I hope) so this will have to do.

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Friday, June 20, 2008

My skin turned the color of the earth, I felt like a tree

Forgotten Disc Friday awaits your visit.

This weeks its from a band you have probably heard of, and probably have forgotten about, (hey what a great idea for a music blog!).

Click away if you please. Be sure to check this and *most* weeks for updated content. Next week Dim returns with his thought(s) on a "forgotten" disc.

Thanks as always for reading (or clicking over) and have a nice weekend.

-march

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Well I done gone and done it...

On a total random chance...
check ticketmaster.
put in "looking for 1"
Up Pops Section 2, Row K Seat 21.

for those of you keeping track that is one row CLOSER and one seat OFF from what I had for R.E.M.

Even with the wallet a *lot* lighter I'll be NINE rows back, dead center from

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Hold Steady..free show in Boston..just rsvp!



THE HOLD STEADY will be headlining the next installment of Going.com and Miller Lite's Great Taste Music Series in Boston at The Paradise on June 26th! Boston's own Aberdeen City will be opening for The Hold Steady. The show will be totally free, just RSVP right
HERE

The show at the Paradise will be the first date for The Hold Steady this summer (see dates here) in support of their new album "Stay Positive" which drops mid-July.

THE HOLD STEADY
w/ Aberdeen City
@ The Paradise
Boston, MA
Doors: 8PM
21+
FREE, must RSVP: here

I can't go..but they are a great band and a fun live band to boot...

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

There are some perks....really

One of the perks of being a Dad is you get some pretty sweet fathers day gifts. What I am getting at is the hand made items from the kids that are too young to have jobs.

Littlest March handed me a "cut out" version of myself. He drew my face and stapled hands on to the paper body etc. The funny part was he wrote a note about "me" on a sheet of paper in the middle. It must have been "answer these questions" type of deal.

here is mine.

Dad
June 2008
by: Littlest March
Name: March
Loving, Tall Old
Wishes for Time to Go Outside
Dreams about going to the store
Wants to go in the Pool
Afraid of Spiders
Likes to go outside and play
Takes me to the Park
Plans to go to the beach
Loves Me
My dad is a computer worker.

Awesome..how spot on he really is, is scary!

(also check the REM post for an mp3 from my recording)

Sunday, June 15, 2008

R.E.M - Comcast Center June 13, 2008 *updated*

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R.E.M
Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA
Friday, June 13, 2008
Support - The National and Modest Mouse


It has been a lot of years. Some might say "Why did you even bother?". Holding on to my, and their past. There was, perhaps no way, in many peoples eyes to be a fan of R.E.M these days, but still I had my ticket and I was going.

Being a music geek I am a member of a few bands "Fan clubs". I know, what am I 12? Well I will have you know that before this internet thing came along bands used to put mailing information inside their cds. Well if you took some time to just write a quick note 10 times out of 10 you got something cool in the mail. It was everything from stickers to pins to 7 inch records. To cut to the chase, I have been in the R.E.M fanclub for at least 10 years if not more. As of late, fan club gives you early access and "prefered" seating to shows.

Well, that early access put me 10 rows back Friday night..about 1 seat off "dead center" to boot.

The tickets were not cheap but I got in to buying two, something I hardly EVER do if I can help it. I asked around some and most folks seemed to be a little put off on the price, which is fine. I have been an avid reader of a boston music blogger, Brad, who runs bradleysalmanac (bookmark it..trust me). Brad, a few weeks ago was bit by the nostalgia bug when he went to see the Cure. Check out his review and mp3's from the entire show here. So I asked Brad and well, Brad after taking a walk down memory lane with the Cure emailed back and said "what the heck, I'll go".

Walking in to the venue about 6:20 and making my way to the seats I came upon Brad who was getting ready for the National to take the stage. We shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Brad, like me, tapes most of what he sees. Before we knew it, the National was taking the stage and it was time to "shhhhhh"

The National took the stage just about 630pm. Even with the stage pushed forward (due to the backline of gear) the band spread out nice and the stage was really quite full. They had a horn section (well 2 horns and a bassoon) drummer, guitar players etc. The few that got that early enough to see them were really treated to a great set of music. I personally am not familiar with their music, but it struck enough of a chord with me personally to go and check their studio stuff out. The band played for about 45 minutes (until 7:15) and the audience slowly filtered in and by the end the cheers were very strong.

Setlist for the National (thanks to the msgboard posters)
Start a War
Brainy
Baby, We'll Be Fine
Slow Show
Mistaken for Strangers
Squalor Victoria
Racing Like a Pro
Apartment Story
Fake Empire
Mr. November

The stage rolled over quickly and Brad and I chatted about the National. He had seen them a few times and commented on how great they sounded tonight. After a few moments we both sort of confessed that, on this very day, we suddenly realized that Johnny Marr (famous for his guitar work in The Smiths ) was in Modest Mouse.

Time did seem to pass quickly and about 7:40pm Modest Mouse took the stage.

Personally I have the last two Modest Mouse records and they are "okay". I haven't spent a lot of time with them in a bit really. The set was tight as a drum though. Leader Isaac Brock sang as if his life depended on it. Often slamming his guitar in to his hips as he screamed his lyrics. The stage was FULL of gear and two drummers were flanked up above the rest of the members. I am not full on sure of the set list, but I can tell you this, the did ignore both "Oceans Breathe Salty" and "Float On".

As their set concluded just about 8:30 and the lights came up, they left a better taste in my mouth honestly. I'll have to give the last two records another spin. Again, at the end Brad and I had a quick chat about our thoughts. He was impressed, said they did a lot to win him back, and during the set he got a call from a buddy back home, who was a HUGE Smiths fan (might still be). Brad said "I had to text him a cryptic message like I am now 10 rows away from Johnny Marr" and he left it at that.

Modest Mouse set list:
1. Intro Noise
2. Satin in a Coffin
3. Teeth Like God's Shoeshine
4. Dashboard
5. Here it Comes
6. King Rat
7. Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
8. Paper Thin Walls
9. Broke
10. The Good Times are Killing Me
11. Doin' the Cockroach
12. Spitting Venom

Just about 9:00pm it was time for R.E.M. The stage was wide open with Mike Mills to my left, Michael Stipe in the center, Peter Buck off to the right with multi-instrumentalist Scott McCaughey even further over to the right. Drummer Bill Rieflin was on a riser in the center of the stage.

The band walked to the stage, gave a quick wave and hello before kicking off the 28 song set with "Living Well is the Best Revenge" the lead off track from their latest studio effort Accelerate. The band was in fine form all evening. The smiles alone showed the band has sort of a new lease on life in a live setting. The last few records have been sort of slower, plodding affairs, while this is a return to the "early" sound of R.E.M.

Rather than going song by song I'll point out some key/cool moments. (full set is at the end after pictures).

Leaving no question who the band supports in the upcoming US Presidentail election Michael introduced "Cuyahoga" saying that the first lines of the song really mean a lot this coming election, they are "Let’s put our heads together and start a new country up..." "Driver 8" was a a quick and dirty version. "Maps and Legends" was dug out of the archives and the few that knew it were treated to a real rare ditty. "The One I Love" still shines in a live setting with both Mills and Stipe sounding in fantastic form. They really play well off one another.

"Let Me In" had a wonderful moment in which all the members huddled to one side of the stage in a circle. Michael had his back to the audience and they did pretty much spine tingling version. The light piano and the acoustic guitars really rang out. They got right back to the hard/quicker songs with "Bad Day" in which Michael tossed his harmonica to the audience when he was done, that lead in to a double whammy from the Green album "Get Up->Orange Crush". The main set ended with "I'm Gonna DJ". The song is okay, but fell sort of flat after "Crush".

The band left the stage for a few moments and came out for the encore. For this it started off with the first single from the new cd "Supernatural Superserious" which really is a strong song live. The "staple" song of the evening came with "Losing My Religion", and really the audience didn't seem to mind.

In a very humbling moment Mike Mills took center stage and before he began "Don’t Go Back To) Rockville", he expressed apologies for being in poor voice. The reason, he said, was the night before he went to see Mission of Burma perform, and he screamed along like a wild man. He didn't seem to waiver (at least to these ears) and the song always brings a smile to my face.

The show was drawing to a close, and a "not so longer surprising" moment occurs when Johnny Marr returns to the stage for "Fall on Me". At the conclusion of the song Michael again thanked us for coming and said "We have one more".

A rain of boo's follows....

"Okay, how about 2 more?"

The audience warms up to that idea and the band quickly huddles. We have no idea what they are about to play, but Peter Buck is giving Marr the quick low down on the chords and what have you. Michael introduces "Pretty Persuasion" and off they go. Buck and Marr exchange a few nods, and gestures for the first verse, but it all comes together fine.

The show ends with "Man on the Moon" as it has for the last few tours it seems. It may have seen better days but still, the audience ate it up. Mind you, I didn't feel cheated with the song.

Overall I have to say I was impressed. In reading some of the set lists we got a few real gems and rare tracks. The band even said a few songs they had hardly rehearsed, let alone played live in a while. With a catalog as vast as theirs it should be commonplace for this to occur so I was glad to see an "on" night.

The band was all smiles and Stipe spoke "a lot" to the audience, but he is such a fun guy to listen to you don't get too upset when he does talk. He doesn't preach, he sort of tells a quick story and off they go. He even asked at one point if he was talking too much and, again, the audience didn't really give him a clear cut yes or no.

Tickets might not have been cheap, but they still bring it in a live setting. Never mind the fact I was so close.

Here are a few shots from the show, mind you my camera is not the best.

Peter Buck
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Mike Mills
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Michael Stipe
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Peter Buck and Johnny Marr

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The 3 core members say thank you and goodnight...

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The complete REM set list was as follows:
1. Living Well Is the Best Revenge
2. Begin The Begin
3. What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
4. Circus Envy
5. Man-Sized Wreath
6. West Of The Fields
6. Ignoreland
8. Departure
9. Cuyahoga
10. Hollow Man
11. Driver 8
12. Houston
13. Electrolite
14. Maps And Legends
15. Horse to Water
16. The One I Love
17. I’ve Been High
18. Let Me In
19. Bad Day
20. Get Up
21. Orange Crush
22. I'm Gonna DJ

23. Supernatural Superserious
24. Losing My Religion
25. (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville (Mike Mills on lead vocals)
26. Fall On Me (w/Johnny Marr)
27. Pretty Persuasion (extra encore w/J.Marr)
28. Man On The Moon (w/J.Marr)

Here is an mp3 of my recording of Man on the Moon

Check out Brads photos on flickr here. he took a lot.

I hope to have a sample up from my recording in a day or so more. Keep your eye on bradleysalmanac for The National set, perhaps the Modest Mouse (I ran tape as well). There will be a joined effort to get R.E.M out as well as Brad headed for the gate at the start of Man on the Moon.

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Friday, June 13, 2008

He was begging on his bended knee

Forgotten Disc Friday awaits your visit.

This weeks its from a band you have probably heard of, but might not have "heard", or at least in a while. Check it out..its really easy..just click.

Thanks as always for reading (or clicking over) and have a nice weekend.

-march

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Ahhh crap..are you kidding?

The last 2-3 days Little March has been under the weather. Sort of hoarse, cough, runny nose. Sort of stuff you attribute to allergies or even just a cold.

This is the final full week of school, Little has had perfect attendance. To add to this, this whole week is "Spirit Week". Crazy Hat Day, Tropical Island Day etc...

So, yesterday Little gets ready for school and is a little slower than usual, but still in a good enough mood. Its "Flashback" Day so she has some 70's disco stuff going on. Off she and littlest go to the bus.

Fast forward to about noon.

I get an email from Mrs March simply reading - Little March not well, chills, temp 102, general not feeling well..going to get.

Late in the day I get a call from Mrs asking of I can stop of milk on the way home and then she says "Oh, Little has something to tell you".

*hands phone over*
Little March - Hi Daddy.
Me - hey, how are you feeling?!
LM - umm okay, my throat hurts and I sound funny.
me - well, that is okay sorry you don't feel good.
LM - dad, you know what?
me - what?
LM - they think I might have chicken pox.
me - What??
LM - yeah..they said it might be.
me - oh no, you had a shot for this when you were little!
LM - No dad, I had THREE shots for it.

Soooooooooo word around the campfire is even if you are vaccinated against the chicken pox you can get it still (WTF?). She is home today and hasn't had a temp, but has a few "noticeable" marks on her neck and torso. The doctor said it could either be a virus, or a very mild post vaccinated version of chicken pox.

Out the window goes Tropical Island day...
Out the window goes the perfect attendance...

9am she is sitting at the table playing with some Polly Pockets and I get "Dad...I am bored can I please go to school?"

Can I go to school? Whoa, I'll have to remember this come high school!

Monday, June 9, 2008

The Joy Division movie...



This past weekend I finally had the chance to see the film Control.

The movie is about Joy Division, and the bands singer Ian Curtis, who, at age 23 on the eve of the bands first US Tour hung himself.

Even with the heavy subject matter, the film was pretty well done. I had read about it ages ago and sort of need to 'remember' to add things to Netflix. Even casual fans of the band might enjoy it, it has be back to the Joy Division cds today...

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Helllllllllllllll yeah Sigur Ros Boston show!



We hate to *wish summer away* but Sigur Ros have announced a Boston Show.

September 19, 2008 at the Bank of America Pavilion. Tickets on sale to the general public on June 27th.

Insert one monster of a hell yeah *here*

Friday, June 6, 2008

Sign of and for the times I guess...

You can't hide from this hell.

Forgotten Disc Friday awaits your visit. I was surprised with the reaction I got to last weeks. This weeks will either get a few comments or a lot of blank stares.

Thanks as always for reading (or clicking over) and have a nice weekend.

-march

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

I am a marketing genius...

okay..i am putting this out there, and if you see it happening I want the residuals.

the set up:
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if every household in the United States replaced just ONE regular incandescent light bulb with an Energy Star approved compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) we’d save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

Okay fair enough.

my idea for ANY company, organization etc is this:

Buy a bunch of the bulbs, slap your logo on the box and give ONE away per "customer" or visitor to your store/web site.

How can that NOT be good PR for your company? Oh look Random Musings Light Bulbs..that boy is one smarty pants..i think I'll book mark his site and tell all my friends to read. Imagine if you were Target, or Dunkin Donuts or CVS or Best Buy..whatever. Sports Teams..anything to give you a "green image" how can that hurt?

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

What ever happened to....

The other night I was flipping around and came upon VH1 Classic. They were showing the 80's breakdancing movie "Beat Street". One of the films stars was Rae Dawn Chong. Is it just me, or was she in about 100,000 movies in the 80's? Now, I can't get my Rae Dawn fix...Hollywood..what gives?!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Bit by the bug.....

Saturday Mrs March and the kids went to a birthday party in the afternoon. After I ran some errands I decided it was time to get on the mountain bike.

I have ridden *some* over the last few years, but nothing like I used to. Most of the rides these days are 20 minutes *tops* with the kids down the street or what have you.

Checking the time before I left 3:45pm. Off I went. The only bummer of the ride was my speedometer/odometer was out of whack, but I rode...and rode..and arrived back home at 5:55. I was gassed, but man I was bit by that bug again. There is an old train track about 1/2 mile from me. I rode one way, then back well past my starting point. I was unsure the area would be much fun, but I was quickly proven wrong, which was great for me.

When I got home, I cleaned the bike, cracked a beer and just realized I needed to do this again, real soon.

I crashed in bed at about 9:10pm, and my legs still sort of hurt, one more day off I think, then I am back at it, even if its 30 minutes I need to get out there.