Music
Wedding Album, Hip and Now
21/11/06 20:03 Filed in: Family Quality Time
I am a slow learner. I do not usually like songs until years after their release. I have to admit I like this one. It is catchy pop and doesn't pretend to be more. I think the theme is great for a wedding album. I don't understand why it "doesn't do anything" for Pete.
Here it is, the Danger Mouse collaboration... Gnarls Barkley with Crazy.
Here it is, the Danger Mouse collaboration... Gnarls Barkley with Crazy.
Wedding Album, Track 2
05/11/06 11:45 Filed in: Family Quality Time
Mike has long followed the output of a boy named E. It seemed improbable that at least one eels track would not make it on the album. E is all over the charts in style and tone, but always manages to speak some truth in the oddest possible way.
For much more information, free tracks and a directory for another slice of the music world check out the main EELS page.
Anyway on to the track: Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)
For much more information, free tracks and a directory for another slice of the music world check out the main EELS page.
Anyway on to the track: Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)
Nickelback
04/03/06 17:15 Filed in: Wife Story | Personal
I was ready to hate this concert. I really only heard "Photograph" before last night. Many years ago we decided we were "too old" to go to rock concerts. Karen heard that Nickelback was coming to Glendale Arena and bought the tickets. She has the last album on the iPod.
I was prepared for a night of "chick music" but I did not get it! Apparently they started as a cover band and moved to the hard end of pop rock similar to Creed. It was a loud rock show complete with Pantera style pyrotechnics! The lead singer (Chad Kroeger) is a real showman. He would address the audience between each song and talk about the influences or inspiration of each tune. He threw in references to this week's hockey victory, a few local bars and the 135 days without rain.
The showmanship continues with a break to shoot free shirts into the audience with a pneumatic cannon. He must have thanked the audience 50 times for coming out, knowing the lyrics and making the show fun.
I am not sure were the showman ends and the truth begins, but the band seemed genuinely happy to be playing the concert. It was not some album deal obligation to them. They seemed pleased the audience knew the word to the songs, even older songs from the "Curb" and "The State" albums. I am not sure if this was also showmanship or if they were as shocked as I was that anyone was listening "back then."
It was a great night out. We may even start going to concerts again. Karen did not feel we were "too old" to fit in the crowd.
The stage was basic, an area for the lead singer, guitarist and bassist with the drummer on a platform behind them. A row of speakers on the stage provide the primary sound. They added a "catwalk" that stretched 30 feet into the audience so they could get up close and personal with the fans.
A flat panel style jumbotron was hung lengthwise above the drummer center stage. The cameras featured Chad's "talks" between songs on this screen and the 4 way screen on the scoreboard (normally this arena is for hockey games). Even the cheap seats got a good close up. During "Photograph" they showed video of photographs falling to a floor and featured some shots of the band having fun.
They added light arrays on either side of the jumbo screen. They were roughly twice the size of the jumbo. The array featured full color and resembled a very low resolution monitor. Each displayed a computer visualizer type screen as though iTunes were running on them. The overall visual was quite nice.
The speaker banks on stage were topped with the propane fire blasters like you feel at most new thrill rides. They would shoot 20 foot flames that definitely warmed us on the floor and greatly contributed to the drummer's sweat! They had several sparkle shooters both up (fountain style) and down. Combined with at least 20 bang caps the fireworks alone were worth the ticket price.
My ears are still not recovered. I still have a heavy ringing in both ears 22 hours after the concert started. We got very dehydrated and had to make an emergency McDonald's run after the show!
Much of the crowd was 30 ish. Some of the floor dwellers were teen girls but they had a Mom in tow. Surprisingly large portions of the floor crew was 40+ (actually ++). I don't know if that was the band's crowd (remembering they knew the words to the old stuff, too) or if the thrill of the floor is lost on the newer crop of concert goers.
I was prepared for a night of "chick music" but I did not get it! Apparently they started as a cover band and moved to the hard end of pop rock similar to Creed. It was a loud rock show complete with Pantera style pyrotechnics! The lead singer (Chad Kroeger) is a real showman. He would address the audience between each song and talk about the influences or inspiration of each tune. He threw in references to this week's hockey victory, a few local bars and the 135 days without rain.
The showmanship continues with a break to shoot free shirts into the audience with a pneumatic cannon. He must have thanked the audience 50 times for coming out, knowing the lyrics and making the show fun.
I am not sure were the showman ends and the truth begins, but the band seemed genuinely happy to be playing the concert. It was not some album deal obligation to them. They seemed pleased the audience knew the word to the songs, even older songs from the "Curb" and "The State" albums. I am not sure if this was also showmanship or if they were as shocked as I was that anyone was listening "back then."
It was a great night out. We may even start going to concerts again. Karen did not feel we were "too old" to fit in the crowd.
Set
The stage was basic, an area for the lead singer, guitarist and bassist with the drummer on a platform behind them. A row of speakers on the stage provide the primary sound. They added a "catwalk" that stretched 30 feet into the audience so they could get up close and personal with the fans.
A flat panel style jumbotron was hung lengthwise above the drummer center stage. The cameras featured Chad's "talks" between songs on this screen and the 4 way screen on the scoreboard (normally this arena is for hockey games). Even the cheap seats got a good close up. During "Photograph" they showed video of photographs falling to a floor and featured some shots of the band having fun.
They added light arrays on either side of the jumbo screen. They were roughly twice the size of the jumbo. The array featured full color and resembled a very low resolution monitor. Each displayed a computer visualizer type screen as though iTunes were running on them. The overall visual was quite nice.
Pyrotechnics
The speaker banks on stage were topped with the propane fire blasters like you feel at most new thrill rides. They would shoot 20 foot flames that definitely warmed us on the floor and greatly contributed to the drummer's sweat! They had several sparkle shooters both up (fountain style) and down. Combined with at least 20 bang caps the fireworks alone were worth the ticket price.
Maybe I Am Too Old
My ears are still not recovered. I still have a heavy ringing in both ears 22 hours after the concert started. We got very dehydrated and had to make an emergency McDonald's run after the show!
Much of the crowd was 30 ish. Some of the floor dwellers were teen girls but they had a Mom in tow. Surprisingly large portions of the floor crew was 40+ (actually ++). I don't know if that was the band's crowd (remembering they knew the words to the old stuff, too) or if the thrill of the floor is lost on the newer crop of concert goers.
iPod (belated)
Finally bought an iPod nano. Went a little cheap at the 2GB limit but I am "moving up" from a 128 MB player, this is huge. It is impossibly small. I forget to take it out of my pocket sometimes because I forget it is there.
Old School Hip Hop
28/02/06 21:41 Filed in: Personal
I picked up some old school tracks from a guy at work. He is my age and enjoyed some of the 80's Hip Hop and rap bands. In fact he is encyclopedic in his knowledge. I liked a few tracks from Run-D.M.C., Fresh Prince Will Smith and L.L. Cool J. This guy has it all and remembers who was in each instance of the group when the song was released.
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The Wedding Album
21/10/06 11:56 Filed in: Family Quality Time
My sister got married again. She married Mike. Mike has great taste in music and passion for collecting songs and band information. He doesn't have music bLog like Pete, but he could not resist the publication opportunity provided by a wedding with lots of guests. He compiled some songs relating to the event, love and the modern definitions of it. He then burned a disc for each guest.
Mike also has an odd sense of humor so most of the songs has a double meaning. Either to him or someone in the families. I ripped them all in to iTunes and started the search for humor and meaning in each track.
Mike gets along famously with my niece Caily. There were even jokes in the toast about being the same mental age. So the first featured track from "The Dugan Wedding Album” is a short little tune form the Bouncing Souls called, "I Like Your Mom"
Website: Bouncing Souls
Mike also has an odd sense of humor so most of the songs has a double meaning. Either to him or someone in the families. I ripped them all in to iTunes and started the search for humor and meaning in each track.
Mike gets along famously with my niece Caily. There were even jokes in the toast about being the same mental age. So the first featured track from "The Dugan Wedding Album” is a short little tune form the Bouncing Souls called, "I Like Your Mom"
Website: Bouncing Souls
Ickmusic.com
A guy at work runs a really nice bLog called ickmusic. His name is Pete Icke and the topic is music so, ickmusic it is. Check it out , post a message and tell him Jim sent you!
Shadowrun is ON for April 1. It is looking like 4 players so far and should be an all day kind of thing. Still room for more players! We are just starting out, so the other characters will not be so far out in front that you will feel like the schoolyard weakling.
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Shadowrun is ON for April 1. It is looking like 4 players so far and should be an all day kind of thing. Still room for more players! We are just starting out, so the other characters will not be so far out in front that you will feel like the schoolyard weakling.
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Wedding Album, Wedding Singer Track
07/11/06 18:25 Filed in: Family Quality Time
One back story on this track is William Broad wrote it in protest of his little sister getting married to a man which Billy did not like. I hope that is not why this track made it to the album. It's been said before, but I like Mike.
My sister did not have the best start on life, but pulled herself through way more shit than I will ever be able to pull through. Mike is like an antidote for that. He can make light of any situation without missing the real gravity of it. It is a great thing for a woman who forgets to laugh and is anticipating the worst.
I really don't know what she is freaking out about. She has it down. Husband, family, house and new Honda CR-V. What else does she want? She has "made it." Did you scan that, Vic? Take a chill! Enjoy a little.
Hopefully this track is on the disc for its popular ties to the Wedding Singer movie. Maybe it is another reason, Mike? Care to clarify?
Track: White Wedding
My sister did not have the best start on life, but pulled herself through way more shit than I will ever be able to pull through. Mike is like an antidote for that. He can make light of any situation without missing the real gravity of it. It is a great thing for a woman who forgets to laugh and is anticipating the worst.
I really don't know what she is freaking out about. She has it down. Husband, family, house and new Honda CR-V. What else does she want? She has "made it." Did you scan that, Vic? Take a chill! Enjoy a little.
Hopefully this track is on the disc for its popular ties to the Wedding Singer movie. Maybe it is another reason, Mike? Care to clarify?
Track: White Wedding
Wedding Album, Lovey Dovey Songs
08/11/06 19:26 Filed in: Family Quality Time
No wedding soundtrack would be complete without some adoring, saccharine songs. This proves a few things. Vicky is getting lucky this time. In every way Mike just interpreted that line! Last time around was not such a good move. There was way too much pressure to do as God intended and live with it. Not enough thought was spent on how to make the best of things. I expect this time she will be happier.
Mike gets it. He hides it well, but he does know what is happening. The next few postings of his more humorous choices will not overshadow the fact that he is in love.
Cue the sap:
You and Me (Wedding Version)
100 Years
UPDATE: I was so taken away while blathering on about my hopes for the new couple I forgot to mention the Track vitals! Track 4 "You and Me" is a song by Lifehouse. This track and "Hanging By A Moment" should be playing on your radio about now. "100 Years" is a great track by "Five for Fighting" who also called "Superman" that you also heard on the radio or the Smallville sound track. Hopefully all this information is in the MP3 metadata for your reference.
Mike gets it. He hides it well, but he does know what is happening. The next few postings of his more humorous choices will not overshadow the fact that he is in love.
Cue the sap:
You and Me (Wedding Version)
100 Years
UPDATE: I was so taken away while blathering on about my hopes for the new couple I forgot to mention the Track vitals! Track 4 "You and Me" is a song by Lifehouse. This track and "Hanging By A Moment" should be playing on your radio about now. "100 Years" is a great track by "Five for Fighting" who also called "Superman" that you also heard on the radio or the Smallville sound track. Hopefully all this information is in the MP3 metadata for your reference.