After writing about my nacho incident I realized that I had other stories regarding food and drink that would bring my character into question. I think it’s best to share these stories with you. Here’s part one. You’re welcome.
“The Turkey Club”
It was already an eventful night: people getting in trouble with their girlfriends for being a wingman; too much alcohol for some; people tripping up the stairs and spilling beer all over their clothes; and a random woman screaming at me “TAKE YOUR SHIRT OFF! REAL MEN FROM OKLAHOMA TAKE THEIR SHIRTS OFF!” while standing in line for a beer, even though I’m not from Oklahoma… all while taking in a country music show.
But the highlight of the evening took place after the event when we went to a nearby restaurant to eat and drink even more.
We arrived at the place and found it to be wall-to-wall packed. Understandably, we opted to leave and go elsewhere, if not home altogether.
On the way out, we walked past the hostess station. The front side was near impassable and I was drunk, so I walked behind since no one was standing there.
As we passed through we saw a to-go container sitting there. And just like the nachos, this box looked lonely, too. No one was close enough to claim it. And we certainly couldn’t let whatever it was go to waste.
So of course someone (likely to be TheGreatCon) decided it best to take the container and run out the door… what with being drunk and hungry and all.
After sprinting across the parking lot, we stopped to survey our bounty and consume whatever was inside the container.
We opened to find half a turkey club sandwich. And without hesitation, I grabbed my portion and started to eat.
TheGreatCon followed suit, but only after some disbelief in me jumping right in for a bite. And then he cried in complaint that there was tomato on the sandwich.
…A sandwich which we did not order.
…One that we could not customize ourselves.
…As if he could complain in any fashion whatsoever.
And then we went home.
The end.
Wait. No, that’s not how the night ended.
So then we were ON OUR WAY HOME when someone (again, likely to be TheGreatCon) informed us that he needed to vomit.
So we pulled off the highway, turned, turned, drove and turned, and finally found a dark place to pull over for him to take care of business.
He exited the vehicle, went over to the chain-link fence, and proceeded to gag himself.
After being unable to make himself throw up, he called me out of the car to keep him company. And then I offered to help him throw up by punching him in the stomach.
He agreed.
So I told him I would hit on the count of three, but then I actually punched him at ‘two’ like the surprise-maker I can be, which did nothing more than surprise-punch him and did not result in vomiting.
I guess at that point I got back in the car and waited for him to finish up.
And THEN we went home.
The real end.
_
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_
Showing posts with label Concerts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Concerts. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Yes, I ate them. Sue me.
One night I went to a concert. I drank ahead of time like I usually do in order to A) save money, and B) get the ball rolling.
At one point during the evening, likely between bands or something like that and after being well-oiled with liquor, I was near one of the snack bar areas taking a rest.
Here’s what I found, sitting there all alone by itself, as if someone forgot about it:
It looked so lonely.
And I was suddenly hungry.
And after much deliberation, including phone calls and texts to friends in hopes of helping me find the best way to handle such a situation, I left it like this:
…Why yes, yes I did eat a random order of nachos that were just sitting around in public.
And yes, of course I was drunk.
And yes, they were good.
_
Follow me on Twitter! (It might be worth it.)
_
At one point during the evening, likely between bands or something like that and after being well-oiled with liquor, I was near one of the snack bar areas taking a rest.
Here’s what I found, sitting there all alone by itself, as if someone forgot about it:
And I was suddenly hungry.
And after much deliberation, including phone calls and texts to friends in hopes of helping me find the best way to handle such a situation, I left it like this:
…Why yes, yes I did eat a random order of nachos that were just sitting around in public.
And yes, of course I was drunk.
And yes, they were good.
_
Follow me on Twitter! (It might be worth it.)
_
Friday, April 22, 2011
Earth Day, Year 3096, and Cold Elbows
[Originally written: 4/22/2010]
Today, apparently, is Earth Day. The day the Earth was made? Probably not, but there’s a chance. Why not, though? It’s not like Christmas is the day that Jesus was born, so why can’t Earth Day be celebrated as the day the Earth was made? I think the world would celebrate a little more, and give a little more respect to the occasion and our home if we gave the Earth a birthday.
I spoke with a friend today and somehow the year 3096 came up. I don’t remember what the context was, but I had to pause and think about it: will humanity be around over a thousand years from now? Will we still be solely on this planet? Will we have colonized parts of space by then? Will the world be so overpopulated that only the rich and powerful live in space as the poor and weak suffer in the “slums” of Earth?
3096 is a long way off by our measure, but it’s really only just around the corner in the reality of the Universe.
Last weekend I went to a concert and was standing next to a guy whom I, obviously, didn’t know. The show goes on as these things tend to do, and people dance and groove in their space as desired. I don’t usually get bothered when people have a good time – I like to have a good time and let my hair down as well – but all of a sudden, this guy just seemed entirely too close and was definitely invading my space. I didn’t really notice until his elbow touched me. The only thing I noticed at that point, and which started my dislike for the guy, was that his elbow was extremely cold… unnaturally cold. I almost felt disgusted.
Needless to say, I promptly adjusted my space, made a comment to a friend, quickly added the mental note into my BlackBerry so that I could write about it at a later date, and went on with my evening. Hair down and all.
What do the top three anecdotes have to do with each other? Not much, except… that Earth Day should be a real celebration of our home, not just a date on a calendar which gives people a reminder to say “happy Earth Day,” “plant a tree,” and “take care of the Earth.” If we don’t give more respect to our home, my anecdote of what the year 3096 may be like could very well become a reality sometime in the future. Respect Earth every day, and everything should turn out just fine. As for the last anecdote: keep your elbows to yourself.
Thank you.
_
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Follow the feed!
_
Today, apparently, is Earth Day. The day the Earth was made? Probably not, but there’s a chance. Why not, though? It’s not like Christmas is the day that Jesus was born, so why can’t Earth Day be celebrated as the day the Earth was made? I think the world would celebrate a little more, and give a little more respect to the occasion and our home if we gave the Earth a birthday.
I spoke with a friend today and somehow the year 3096 came up. I don’t remember what the context was, but I had to pause and think about it: will humanity be around over a thousand years from now? Will we still be solely on this planet? Will we have colonized parts of space by then? Will the world be so overpopulated that only the rich and powerful live in space as the poor and weak suffer in the “slums” of Earth?
3096 is a long way off by our measure, but it’s really only just around the corner in the reality of the Universe.
Last weekend I went to a concert and was standing next to a guy whom I, obviously, didn’t know. The show goes on as these things tend to do, and people dance and groove in their space as desired. I don’t usually get bothered when people have a good time – I like to have a good time and let my hair down as well – but all of a sudden, this guy just seemed entirely too close and was definitely invading my space. I didn’t really notice until his elbow touched me. The only thing I noticed at that point, and which started my dislike for the guy, was that his elbow was extremely cold… unnaturally cold. I almost felt disgusted.
Needless to say, I promptly adjusted my space, made a comment to a friend, quickly added the mental note into my BlackBerry so that I could write about it at a later date, and went on with my evening. Hair down and all.
What do the top three anecdotes have to do with each other? Not much, except… that Earth Day should be a real celebration of our home, not just a date on a calendar which gives people a reminder to say “happy Earth Day,” “plant a tree,” and “take care of the Earth.” If we don’t give more respect to our home, my anecdote of what the year 3096 may be like could very well become a reality sometime in the future. Respect Earth every day, and everything should turn out just fine. As for the last anecdote: keep your elbows to yourself.
Thank you.
_
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Follow the feed!
_
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A random note from drunkenness
I went to enter a note into my phone and found this:
“I don't know how to put this, but, a small person came briskly walking by, tripped, recovered, and a following individual exclaimed to me: safety first!”
“I slowly turned around to write this.”
…I can only assume that by ‘small person’ I meant ‘midget’, and by ‘tripped’ I meant ‘fell the fuck down’.
...I can also only assume that by ‘slowly turned around to write this’ I meant ‘I couldn’t help myself from laughing and had to make a note of the hilarity I’ve just witnessed because I’m alone and have no one else to verbally express myself to’, and, ‘I’m also probably drunk at the moment’.
_
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“I don't know how to put this, but, a small person came briskly walking by, tripped, recovered, and a following individual exclaimed to me: safety first!”
“I slowly turned around to write this.”
…I can only assume that by ‘small person’ I meant ‘midget’, and by ‘tripped’ I meant ‘fell the fuck down’.
...I can also only assume that by ‘slowly turned around to write this’ I meant ‘I couldn’t help myself from laughing and had to make a note of the hilarity I’ve just witnessed because I’m alone and have no one else to verbally express myself to’, and, ‘I’m also probably drunk at the moment’.
_
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Follow the feed!
_
Friday, March 25, 2011
The Highlights (The Tunes)
Not too long ago, I posed The Highlights (not the painting hairs kind). In it, I highlighted several posts from the early days (because many of you haven't been around for the entire year, and you wouldn't want to be left out on the early stuff, would you?).
This post is the follow-up to that post, and highlights some of the writings around bands, concerts, and music I've encountered over the past year.
For some of you, this will be like a stroll down memory lane. For others, you may find new love... or something like that... or nothing like that at all.
In fact, it's quite likely you've already given up and moved on to something else by now. But I'm going to continue anyway. I'm a survivor like that.
So, here it is - enjoy!
-- In 30STM and The Moment, I wrote about how music can be liberating, how it soothes the soul, and how it can create what I call 'The Moment' - a time when you realize that man is good, and that all is alright. Read more about it here.
-- I wrote a follow-up piece a few days later, which actually was written on my phone shortly after the show, and talks about how the music that night inspired a new generation of musicians. It's kind of inspiring (at least I think so). Read on.
-- Here's a piece detailing how I (possibly) saved someone's life at a concert.
-- I wrote how Shinedown and vanilla (the flavor) are an unfortunate combination in this one.
-- I wrote about an unlikely experience with FaceMan here, and then another time about FaceMan's First Waltz here.
-- Somehow hula hoops and Jesus ponies made their way into a post about a music festival here.
-- And here's one about Peter Steele from Type O Negative and Ozzy Osbourne (and how Ozzy's continued existence may be due to some type of artificial life... because somehow he's still alive).
This post is the follow-up to that post, and highlights some of the writings around bands, concerts, and music I've encountered over the past year.
For some of you, this will be like a stroll down memory lane. For others, you may find new love... or something like that... or nothing like that at all.
In fact, it's quite likely you've already given up and moved on to something else by now. But I'm going to continue anyway. I'm a survivor like that.
So, here it is - enjoy!
-- In 30STM and The Moment, I wrote about how music can be liberating, how it soothes the soul, and how it can create what I call 'The Moment' - a time when you realize that man is good, and that all is alright. Read more about it here.
-- I wrote a follow-up piece a few days later, which actually was written on my phone shortly after the show, and talks about how the music that night inspired a new generation of musicians. It's kind of inspiring (at least I think so). Read on.
-- Here's a piece detailing how I (possibly) saved someone's life at a concert.
-- I wrote how Shinedown and vanilla (the flavor) are an unfortunate combination in this one.
-- I wrote about an unlikely experience with FaceMan here, and then another time about FaceMan's First Waltz here.
-- Somehow hula hoops and Jesus ponies made their way into a post about a music festival here.
-- And here's one about Peter Steele from Type O Negative and Ozzy Osbourne (and how Ozzy's continued existence may be due to some type of artificial life... because somehow he's still alive).
Monday, March 14, 2011
Dear, good time: I had you. Again.
This past weekend was full of activity, primarily due to The String Cheese Incident run on March 10th, 11th, and 12th.
I can’t possibly recap or review; there was just too much, and I could never do it justice. It’s one of those things you have to experience first-hand to appreciate, understand, or even begin to grasp.
But, it would be uncharacteristic of me to give up so easily. Instead, I offer you my (then) real-time updates from the @WrkspcWrtngs Twitter account (follow now if you haven’t already). And no, there’s no “I’m going to get a beer right at this moment” or “I’m currently eating a hot dog” or “I’m standing in line and am cold” or anything insignificant like that. I do my best to shy away from such annoyances.
So, without further ado, behold:
Thursday, March 10th, 2011:
-So far this evening I have seen buzz lightyear and a giant penguin. I suppose that’s a win. Right?
-And also a man wearing a black onesy(sp?) with a bunch of eyes all over it. That move.
Friday, March 11th, 2011
-Already: 2 cow costumes and a Who.
-And one of those giant furry fetish cat costumes.
-This can mean only one thing: I’m buying a costume before tomorrow’s show.
-And one of those Chinese dragons, but small enough to wrap around a neck.
-Men with lighted hula hoops shouldn’t happen. Imho.
-And now a juggler rolling through the crowd on a glowing ball.
-Wait. What is that! A man in a penis costume, complete with testicles? Yup. Sure is.
-And of course more people on stilts.
-And a guy next to me was just tackled by security.
-I may or may not die by hula hoop.
-I turn around, find a circle of ppl, 1 guy in the middle, puking all over. Lovely.
Saturday, March 12th, 2011:
-Sold out show tonight. How will I ever have room for my interpretive dancing?!
-Maybe don’t bring a wallet the size of Africa. Just sayin.
-I found the Burger King. Let the night begin.
-That cat I mentioned last night? Standing next to me.
-Not sure, but I think that was an interpretive dancing mosh pit.
-No joke: some dude just put ketchup on his soft pretzel.
-Well this is a logistical nightmare: apparently they’re trying to get a parade together to go around the venue.
-But I just had a grilled cheese, so it’ll be ok.
-{picture taken and shared}
-{picture taken and shared}
-{picture taken and shared}
-You have to be here.
-{picture taken and shared}
-Giant beach balls {picture taken and shared}
-And just like that it’s over.
Oh, and for those counting at home: no water bottle cap issues this time around.
And for your continued interest in my String Cheese experience, read about my first go-round with the band last year: Dear, good time: I had you.
I can’t possibly recap or review; there was just too much, and I could never do it justice. It’s one of those things you have to experience first-hand to appreciate, understand, or even begin to grasp.
But, it would be uncharacteristic of me to give up so easily. Instead, I offer you my (then) real-time updates from the @WrkspcWrtngs Twitter account (follow now if you haven’t already). And no, there’s no “I’m going to get a beer right at this moment” or “I’m currently eating a hot dog” or “I’m standing in line and am cold” or anything insignificant like that. I do my best to shy away from such annoyances.
So, without further ado, behold:
Thursday, March 10th, 2011:
-So far this evening I have seen buzz lightyear and a giant penguin. I suppose that’s a win. Right?
-And also a man wearing a black onesy(sp?) with a bunch of eyes all over it. That move.
Friday, March 11th, 2011
-Already: 2 cow costumes and a Who.
-And one of those giant furry fetish cat costumes.
-This can mean only one thing: I’m buying a costume before tomorrow’s show.
-And one of those Chinese dragons, but small enough to wrap around a neck.
-Men with lighted hula hoops shouldn’t happen. Imho.
-And now a juggler rolling through the crowd on a glowing ball.
-Wait. What is that! A man in a penis costume, complete with testicles? Yup. Sure is.
-And of course more people on stilts.
-And a guy next to me was just tackled by security.
-I may or may not die by hula hoop.
-I turn around, find a circle of ppl, 1 guy in the middle, puking all over. Lovely.
Saturday, March 12th, 2011:
-Sold out show tonight. How will I ever have room for my interpretive dancing?!
-Maybe don’t bring a wallet the size of Africa. Just sayin.
-I found the Burger King. Let the night begin.
-That cat I mentioned last night? Standing next to me.
-Not sure, but I think that was an interpretive dancing mosh pit.
-No joke: some dude just put ketchup on his soft pretzel.
-Well this is a logistical nightmare: apparently they’re trying to get a parade together to go around the venue.
-But I just had a grilled cheese, so it’ll be ok.
-{picture taken and shared}
-{picture taken and shared}
-{picture taken and shared}
-You have to be here.
-{picture taken and shared}
-Giant beach balls {picture taken and shared}
-And just like that it’s over.
Oh, and for those counting at home: no water bottle cap issues this time around.
And for your continued interest in my String Cheese experience, read about my first go-round with the band last year: Dear, good time: I had you.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Highlights (not the painting hairs kind)
We’re getting near the 1-year mark on this blog. A lot of you haven’t been around that long, so I thought it a good idea to highlight a few of the older posts to introduce you to the early days (and because I don’t have anything new to write about at the moment). So, here you go. Enjoy!
The first “real” post was somehow based solely on motion-sensing faucets and other motion-sensing items. Turns out they’re something like magic. Find that post here.
Over time I’ve had quite a few posts on cats: how it’s natural to be wary of a cat – cats are unique in a strange way, not a normal way – and – cats that will kill you are three of said posts. Please, explore. Cat lovers are welcome. Cat dislikers will probably understand better, though.
I’ve also written about zombies here, eating “zombie” here, and about zombie mosquitoes here. You may be surprised…
I have even wrote about cold elbows. Why cold elbows? Because they’re gross. Find out more here.
I think that will suffice for now. Please, feel free to take a look around and explore with the topic tags. There’s quite a few to choose from! Dare I say something for everyone?
Enjoy!
The first “real” post was somehow based solely on motion-sensing faucets and other motion-sensing items. Turns out they’re something like magic. Find that post here.
Over time I’ve had quite a few posts on cats: how it’s natural to be wary of a cat – cats are unique in a strange way, not a normal way – and – cats that will kill you are three of said posts. Please, explore. Cat lovers are welcome. Cat dislikers will probably understand better, though.
I’ve also written about zombies here, eating “zombie” here, and about zombie mosquitoes here. You may be surprised…
I have even wrote about cold elbows. Why cold elbows? Because they’re gross. Find out more here.
I think that will suffice for now. Please, feel free to take a look around and explore with the topic tags. There’s quite a few to choose from! Dare I say something for everyone?
Enjoy!
Monday, February 14, 2011
The most important of all tickets…
I went to the Umphrey’s McGee show Friday night. Other than the show being great, it turned out to be pretty eventful.
While in line halfway to the door, my friend turned to me and said she lost her ticket. The very same ticket I gave her earlier before standing in line, for which she hadn’t paid me yet.
She proceeded to purchase another ticket while I went inside and met up with me later.
Once inside, I checked my coat and received a ticket for it. I proceeded to get a drink and then headed to the floor.
After a while into the show, I purchased another drink.
After an even longer time, I reached into my pocket to take inventory of its contents, something I regularly do when out in public, and which I had done previously in the night.
I realized then I had lost my ticket, much like my friend had lost her ticket earlier in the evening. Under normal circumstances I would have thought nothing of it because I was already inside… but this was not a normal circumstance.
You see, I had ticket number 1. The first ticket of all tickets to the show. THEE very first ticket sold. Numero uno. Ticket #1.
You can imagine that it was very, very disappointing to learn I had lost my ticket. Thus began a formal search of the floor – everywhere I had been standing after getting the second drink.
So there I was, while band playing, wandering slowly with drink in hand all around the venue where I had been previously. Unfortunately, after some time of looking in places, re-looking, and going back again to the same places a third time, I hadn’t found my ticket. I found other pieces of paper, but not my ticket. Not ticket #1. Nor did I find any other numbered ticket.
All the while, I kept checking my pockets, all of them, again and again, in disbelief that I had lost my ticket, in hopes of finding it hanging out as if nothing happened (perhaps my mind was playing tricks on me?).
Each time I checked my pockets no ticket appeared.
However, the other ticket was still in my pocket, which is when I realized that the concert ticket really isn’t of great importance, and I was making a big deal of nothing.
And that’s when it hit me – I still held the most important of all tickets… the coat check ticket!
You see, if you lost that ticket, you’re likely never to see your coat again, making it truly, the most important of all tickets.
Of course, after time went by, still in disbelief, I reached into my pocket again to check – and what did I find along with the most important of all tickets?
Ticket number 1.
Hanging out.
Just sittin’ in my pocket. Snug-like the entire time.
Apparently playing magic-man with me all night long.
_
While in line halfway to the door, my friend turned to me and said she lost her ticket. The very same ticket I gave her earlier before standing in line, for which she hadn’t paid me yet.
She proceeded to purchase another ticket while I went inside and met up with me later.
Once inside, I checked my coat and received a ticket for it. I proceeded to get a drink and then headed to the floor.
After a while into the show, I purchased another drink.
After an even longer time, I reached into my pocket to take inventory of its contents, something I regularly do when out in public, and which I had done previously in the night.
I realized then I had lost my ticket, much like my friend had lost her ticket earlier in the evening. Under normal circumstances I would have thought nothing of it because I was already inside… but this was not a normal circumstance.
You see, I had ticket number 1. The first ticket of all tickets to the show. THEE very first ticket sold. Numero uno. Ticket #1.
You can imagine that it was very, very disappointing to learn I had lost my ticket. Thus began a formal search of the floor – everywhere I had been standing after getting the second drink.
So there I was, while band playing, wandering slowly with drink in hand all around the venue where I had been previously. Unfortunately, after some time of looking in places, re-looking, and going back again to the same places a third time, I hadn’t found my ticket. I found other pieces of paper, but not my ticket. Not ticket #1. Nor did I find any other numbered ticket.
All the while, I kept checking my pockets, all of them, again and again, in disbelief that I had lost my ticket, in hopes of finding it hanging out as if nothing happened (perhaps my mind was playing tricks on me?).
Each time I checked my pockets no ticket appeared.
However, the other ticket was still in my pocket, which is when I realized that the concert ticket really isn’t of great importance, and I was making a big deal of nothing.
And that’s when it hit me – I still held the most important of all tickets… the coat check ticket!
You see, if you lost that ticket, you’re likely never to see your coat again, making it truly, the most important of all tickets.
Of course, after time went by, still in disbelief, I reached into my pocket again to check – and what did I find along with the most important of all tickets?
Ticket number 1.
Hanging out.
Just sittin’ in my pocket. Snug-like the entire time.
Apparently playing magic-man with me all night long.
_
Monday, February 7, 2011
FaceMan’s First Waltz
Four hours of music, plenty of note-taking, a few drinks, and overall a good time: that’s what my Friday night looked like.
(Note: The following is not meant to be an all-encompassing review of all musicians who graced the stage; it is but a highlight of the music that hit me.)
FaceMan’s First Waltz: an eclectic showcase of local talent; a true compilation of the variety in Denver’s local music scene. It was a welcomed change from the norm of one-band/one-stage/one-type of music for an hour or two. If you weren’t familiar with Denver’s music, this was the event to see. 30+ local musicians sharing one stage. Not all at once, of course; they mixed and mingled throughout the evening on each other’s songs, creating an event that is now difficult to portray to those who were not there.
The first song hit with true emotion in FaceMan’s voice. It was clear that the music Steve sings is true to his heart and something he really feels. Poppy? No. Real? Yes.
Martin Gilmore, previously unknown to me (much like all others on stage) surely impressed the crowd with an absolutely awesome voice and great storytelling lyrics. Why he’s not touring nationally, I have no idea. But that’s the kind of voice he has.
Players from The Outfit and The Knew rocked the house and livened the crowd a bit, while the Boulder Acoustic Society leveled the field as they offered grace and added soul to the stage.
Chadzilla from Slim Cessna’s Auto Club added a some vocals and a few drum tracks, and Bonnie and The Beard brought the female vocals to the stage with lively, swinging guitar sounds.
Medicine Man… what can I say. Dare I offer: “the greatest harmonica in Denver”? I said it once before and I’ll say it again: FaceMan and Medicine Man should play more music together. If not formally, then Medicine Man should at least make a cameo during FaceMan’s future shows.
Panal S.A de C.V hit the stage late in the night, brining a touch of instrumental rock of the heavier nature to the gig which was unlike any other on the stage that night – a nice addition to the folk/classic rock/indie sound of the event.
A duo from Bop Skizzum brought along a definite surprise of funk to the show, playing some of the best funk I’ve heard in the area. My notes say, ‘funk act that was pretty darn good!’, which sums up their time on the stage accurately.
I wish I had a playlist to call out specific tunes of the evening, but it was either the third- or fourth-to-last song that had me saying “wow”. And there were plenty of catchy lyrics throughout the night that still repeat today.
Of course, I can’t forget a few words about FaceMan: their music was well-received by the crowd, and at times the audience joined in by singing along and often cheered when a favorite song began to play. Their folk-rock sound and sincere lyrics seem to resonate with listeners; perhaps FaceMan sings something that we all tend to feel from time to time.
Even though it was not a true FaceMan show where the audience was surrounded by their music only, the playlist allowed for FaceMan to become the underlying bond of the night’s varying music. Playing that role in an event like this brought with it the potential for disaster. Rest assured, FaceMan, disaster averted: the format went well. Bravo!
It was clear there had been a lot of energy and time put into the event. I appreciated it… we appreciated it.
FaceMan set out to put on a party, a CD release event much like no other seen in the area. It was clear the members of FaceMan enjoyed it, along with all the other musicians who appeared on stage.
So did we.
‘Great job’ to all, congratulations on the new CD, and ‘thank you’ from the crowd.
Now let’s hear some more music!
_
*Follow me on Twitter @WrkspcWrtngs
*Here’s Westword’s review of the night.
_
(Note: The following is not meant to be an all-encompassing review of all musicians who graced the stage; it is but a highlight of the music that hit me.)
FaceMan’s First Waltz: an eclectic showcase of local talent; a true compilation of the variety in Denver’s local music scene. It was a welcomed change from the norm of one-band/one-stage/one-type of music for an hour or two. If you weren’t familiar with Denver’s music, this was the event to see. 30+ local musicians sharing one stage. Not all at once, of course; they mixed and mingled throughout the evening on each other’s songs, creating an event that is now difficult to portray to those who were not there.
The first song hit with true emotion in FaceMan’s voice. It was clear that the music Steve sings is true to his heart and something he really feels. Poppy? No. Real? Yes.
Martin Gilmore, previously unknown to me (much like all others on stage) surely impressed the crowd with an absolutely awesome voice and great storytelling lyrics. Why he’s not touring nationally, I have no idea. But that’s the kind of voice he has.
Players from The Outfit and The Knew rocked the house and livened the crowd a bit, while the Boulder Acoustic Society leveled the field as they offered grace and added soul to the stage.
Chadzilla from Slim Cessna’s Auto Club added a some vocals and a few drum tracks, and Bonnie and The Beard brought the female vocals to the stage with lively, swinging guitar sounds.
Medicine Man… what can I say. Dare I offer: “the greatest harmonica in Denver”? I said it once before and I’ll say it again: FaceMan and Medicine Man should play more music together. If not formally, then Medicine Man should at least make a cameo during FaceMan’s future shows.
Panal S.A de C.V hit the stage late in the night, brining a touch of instrumental rock of the heavier nature to the gig which was unlike any other on the stage that night – a nice addition to the folk/classic rock/indie sound of the event.
A duo from Bop Skizzum brought along a definite surprise of funk to the show, playing some of the best funk I’ve heard in the area. My notes say, ‘funk act that was pretty darn good!’, which sums up their time on the stage accurately.
I wish I had a playlist to call out specific tunes of the evening, but it was either the third- or fourth-to-last song that had me saying “wow”. And there were plenty of catchy lyrics throughout the night that still repeat today.
Of course, I can’t forget a few words about FaceMan: their music was well-received by the crowd, and at times the audience joined in by singing along and often cheered when a favorite song began to play. Their folk-rock sound and sincere lyrics seem to resonate with listeners; perhaps FaceMan sings something that we all tend to feel from time to time.
Even though it was not a true FaceMan show where the audience was surrounded by their music only, the playlist allowed for FaceMan to become the underlying bond of the night’s varying music. Playing that role in an event like this brought with it the potential for disaster. Rest assured, FaceMan, disaster averted: the format went well. Bravo!
It was clear there had been a lot of energy and time put into the event. I appreciated it… we appreciated it.
FaceMan set out to put on a party, a CD release event much like no other seen in the area. It was clear the members of FaceMan enjoyed it, along with all the other musicians who appeared on stage.
So did we.
‘Great job’ to all, congratulations on the new CD, and ‘thank you’ from the crowd.
Now let’s hear some more music!
_
*Follow me on Twitter @WrkspcWrtngs
*Here’s Westword’s review of the night.
_
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
In support of their Waltz on Friday: FaceMan
Originally posted a while ago (5/24/10):
As the music went on and the videos kept changing, it began to make sense… this wasn’t about the band members; Faceman is about the music, the show, and the experience.
FaceMan, I have to hand it to you – you did a great job. Your music was surprisingly good and your gimmick worked very well with the crowd. I definitely look forward to seeing you again.
I ended up at Pete’s Monkey Bar (formerly Dulcinea’s 100th Monkey) Saturday night for a few drinks and some live music. I love going to Pete’s, it’s a very comfortable place and I feel at home there – good people, good atmosphere, and good music. I was a little hesitant to go Saturday because Pete’s doesn’t usually post who is playing, and I like to do my research on the bands ahead of time to make sure I’m going to enjoy them. I ended up going anyway, and wow, what an experience.
FaceMan was playing that night. Who (or what) is Faceman? FaceMan is a band with a very interesting gimmick: the singer/lead guy comes walking through the front door after the music has started wearing a silver/grey suit with a contraption on his shoulders which fashions a box around his head that has vents on all sides and spinning lights on top (which he turns on and off throughout the show). Needless to say, I was surprised by what I saw, and honestly, I was a little apprehensive of what was going to follow.
And so the show went on, silver-box-with-spinning-lights-over-some-guy’s-head and all. They also had a special guest, a harmonica player called Medicine who added serious depth to the music – who should always play with Faceman from here on out. Oh, and there were two projector screens near the ceiling, and a silver robot looking thing centered in front (something like you would find on Mystery Science Theater 3000)… with a light that kept changing colors (what I thought to be an eye), and a mouth with fiery-orange teeth… fun right? It was.
You see, the projectors played snippets of video along with the music (think Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and the Wizard of Oz, but with different videos). And although the music and video weren’t in perfect synchronization, it was still pretty damn cool. Every now and then the video would become two eyes, and that’s when you could see it: two eyes, a nose and a mouth of a giant something (see below).
As the music went on and the videos kept changing, it began to make sense… this wasn’t about the band members; Faceman is about the music, the show, and the experience.
FaceMan, I have to hand it to you – you did a great job. Your music was surprisingly good and your gimmick worked very well with the crowd. I definitely look forward to seeing you again.
And Pete – thanks again for another great night. You guys are awesome.
Pete's Monkey Bar: http://www.petesmonkeybar.com/
Pete's on Facebook: www.facebook.com/petesmonkeybar
_
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saving a life with 30 Seconds To Mars
Friday evening I attended the 30 Seconds To Mars show. You may recall the last time I saw them. This time around was also a good show (even though the show concluded before 10pm), however, a little more eventful in some ways. Please keep reading for the story. It’s sure to be a nail-biter… or not.
You see, we were standing at center stage in the middle of the crowd, at a point where Jared (the lead singer) had everyone take 3 steps forward 3 times during the course of the first few songs (I’m sure you can imagine how we were all packed in, literally, like sardines) When all of a sudden, the crowd in front of me parted and a guy and his girlfriend appeared in a clear attempt to walk to the back of the crowd.
After focusing, I realized he was carrying this girl and was clearly having trouble as she was obviously passed out. I imagine at the start of their journey she faced him with arms wrapped around his neck as he began to walk her backward, and that all was going to be OK for them. By this point, however, she was slumping to the floor – her face in his chest, and his hands desperately holding on below her shoulders.
Xtina quickly prompted me to give him a hand getting the girl out of the crowd (I assume it was my inebriation that didn’t allow me to notice his need for help sooner). I asked if he wanted help, he signaled yes, I slung her into my arms, and off we went pushing through the crowd as I yelled for people to move aside, pardoning and thanking the entire way. The guy was behind me holding her feet, although there was no need since I had her fully in my arms, braced with my left arm under her knees and my right arm under back.
At some point the girl decided to come to, which I’m sure was a little surprising for her to find herself being carried away by a strange man with a hat and a beard, probably much like a soon-to-be bad dream, a kidnapping, or other strange movie scene (unnecessary clarification: I sometimes like to go incognito when in public – full beard, hat, and unsuspecting attire; I don’t like when the paparazzi snap pictures of me. It can be tolling at times. …But I digress).
Fortunately though, she saw her boyfriend in front of her. Unfortunately for me though, concerned for her wellbeing, she tried to sit up in my arms, leaning in the opposite direction from which we were traveling in an attempt to grab hold of her man and claw her way into his arms. Needless to say, this resulted in a very uncomfortable carrying experience for me, which if it weren’t for her coming to, would have been a textbook extraction of a person from the middle of a densely-packed crowd.
Finally, we arrived at a clearing, set her down, the two thanked me, I told them to get water and relax, I turned to go back into the crowd, and realized I was unable to get back to my date. Which was unfortunate because Xtina and I spent the rest of the show trying to find each other after she insisted she was at the first bar on the right when walking back from the stage (which was exactly where I was the entire time, and where I had dropped off the guy & gal combo), when in reality she was at the last bar all the way at the back of the venue… But it was worth it.
_
You see, we were standing at center stage in the middle of the crowd, at a point where Jared (the lead singer) had everyone take 3 steps forward 3 times during the course of the first few songs (I’m sure you can imagine how we were all packed in, literally, like sardines) When all of a sudden, the crowd in front of me parted and a guy and his girlfriend appeared in a clear attempt to walk to the back of the crowd.
After focusing, I realized he was carrying this girl and was clearly having trouble as she was obviously passed out. I imagine at the start of their journey she faced him with arms wrapped around his neck as he began to walk her backward, and that all was going to be OK for them. By this point, however, she was slumping to the floor – her face in his chest, and his hands desperately holding on below her shoulders.
Xtina quickly prompted me to give him a hand getting the girl out of the crowd (I assume it was my inebriation that didn’t allow me to notice his need for help sooner). I asked if he wanted help, he signaled yes, I slung her into my arms, and off we went pushing through the crowd as I yelled for people to move aside, pardoning and thanking the entire way. The guy was behind me holding her feet, although there was no need since I had her fully in my arms, braced with my left arm under her knees and my right arm under back.
At some point the girl decided to come to, which I’m sure was a little surprising for her to find herself being carried away by a strange man with a hat and a beard, probably much like a soon-to-be bad dream, a kidnapping, or other strange movie scene (unnecessary clarification: I sometimes like to go incognito when in public – full beard, hat, and unsuspecting attire; I don’t like when the paparazzi snap pictures of me. It can be tolling at times. …But I digress).
Fortunately though, she saw her boyfriend in front of her. Unfortunately for me though, concerned for her wellbeing, she tried to sit up in my arms, leaning in the opposite direction from which we were traveling in an attempt to grab hold of her man and claw her way into his arms. Needless to say, this resulted in a very uncomfortable carrying experience for me, which if it weren’t for her coming to, would have been a textbook extraction of a person from the middle of a densely-packed crowd.
Finally, we arrived at a clearing, set her down, the two thanked me, I told them to get water and relax, I turned to go back into the crowd, and realized I was unable to get back to my date. Which was unfortunate because Xtina and I spent the rest of the show trying to find each other after she insisted she was at the first bar on the right when walking back from the stage (which was exactly where I was the entire time, and where I had dropped off the guy & gal combo), when in reality she was at the last bar all the way at the back of the venue… But it was worth it.
_
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy 2011: A Few (Random) Points
Looks like we all survived; the computers didn’t rise up for yet another year. Yay for us. Maybe next year they’ll attack as previously planned for Y2K. I guess we’ll have to see. Fortunately, we have another full year to prepare. However, something tells me that no one is taking this threat seriously.
So… have you purchased Fast Lane Tea yet from Celestial Seasonings? You should. See my previous post about it. I’ve had several people email to inform me of their purchase. Are you one joining us?
The new wall calendar I’ve received at work seems to be 130% larger than the previous one, and subsequently does not fit on my cube’s wall. Not a fan.
I’ve been searching for a Franklin Covey or other organizer system to meet my needs to no avail. Hopefully avail will happen this week. If not, I’ll have to fashion some sticks and yarn together with some pulp to create the solution best-fit for me.
Already, there are a few concerts lines up this year, namely: Disco Biscuits, 30 Seconds To Mars, and Umphrey’s McGee, all by mid February. Be on the lookout for reviews as per usual.
Did I mention my MBA education is complete? Finally. Not that it took forever, but I’m glad to be done with the homework. However, I have another year’s-worth of free education coming to me so I have to start deciding what direction I want my educational path to go.
Also, I bought a new Jeep. Did I mention that? Don’t think I did.
It seems that things are a little refreshed. While I agree that the New Year holiday is more mental than anything, there’s something to be said about the renewed spirit it can generate if you allow it. Get caught up in the moment and refresh yourself. Keep your head high and your eye on the goal. You’ll get there in one piece.
Signing off until next time.
_
So… have you purchased Fast Lane Tea yet from Celestial Seasonings? You should. See my previous post about it. I’ve had several people email to inform me of their purchase. Are you one joining us?
The new wall calendar I’ve received at work seems to be 130% larger than the previous one, and subsequently does not fit on my cube’s wall. Not a fan.
I’ve been searching for a Franklin Covey or other organizer system to meet my needs to no avail. Hopefully avail will happen this week. If not, I’ll have to fashion some sticks and yarn together with some pulp to create the solution best-fit for me.
Already, there are a few concerts lines up this year, namely: Disco Biscuits, 30 Seconds To Mars, and Umphrey’s McGee, all by mid February. Be on the lookout for reviews as per usual.
Did I mention my MBA education is complete? Finally. Not that it took forever, but I’m glad to be done with the homework. However, I have another year’s-worth of free education coming to me so I have to start deciding what direction I want my educational path to go.
Also, I bought a new Jeep. Did I mention that? Don’t think I did.
It seems that things are a little refreshed. While I agree that the New Year holiday is more mental than anything, there’s something to be said about the renewed spirit it can generate if you allow it. Get caught up in the moment and refresh yourself. Keep your head high and your eye on the goal. You’ll get there in one piece.
Signing off until next time.
_
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Pregnant in the Pit
A few weeks ago I was at a concert for some pretty big bands. I was fortunate enough to have the closest seats in the house – right in the pit in front of the stage. Other than it being extremely mild for a pit, it was a great time.
At one point I had looked to my left and back just to see what was going on. The area we were standing in was only 5 or 6 people deep and well-lit when the bands were on stage, so I could everything going on around me. As I turned around I saw a woman leaning against the back rail – and what looked to be pregnant. I also noticed that there was a guy with her, whom I suspected was the father of the baby.
I quickly turned around because I didn’t want to stare and the pregnant lady. But, of course, I had to turn around again to check. I looked to confirm she was pregnant and turned back to tell my friend. Or maybe I didn’t… I can’t remember if my friend was there or not. Either way…
So of course my mind starts going into “this woman’s crazy mode” because she’s pregnant, standing in a pit at a rock concert – isn’t she the least bit concerned for her and her baby’s well being?
No, of course she wasn’t. Why? Because as the lights came up as the next band came on stage, I looked back at the pregnant lady in disbelief again, and saw that she was holding a backpack in front of her body.
…Not a pregnant lady at all.
_
At one point I had looked to my left and back just to see what was going on. The area we were standing in was only 5 or 6 people deep and well-lit when the bands were on stage, so I could everything going on around me. As I turned around I saw a woman leaning against the back rail – and what looked to be pregnant. I also noticed that there was a guy with her, whom I suspected was the father of the baby.
I quickly turned around because I didn’t want to stare and the pregnant lady. But, of course, I had to turn around again to check. I looked to confirm she was pregnant and turned back to tell my friend. Or maybe I didn’t… I can’t remember if my friend was there or not. Either way…
So of course my mind starts going into “this woman’s crazy mode” because she’s pregnant, standing in a pit at a rock concert – isn’t she the least bit concerned for her and her baby’s well being?
No, of course she wasn’t. Why? Because as the lights came up as the next band came on stage, I looked back at the pregnant lady in disbelief again, and saw that she was holding a backpack in front of her body.
…Not a pregnant lady at all.
_
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Hula hoop mastery & Jesus Ponies
The other day I went to the Rockstar Uproar festival. Jagermeister was there, as usual, and had a tent where you could get free swag. But nothing in life is free. So what did I have to offer up in return for free swag? I had to hula hoop.
I don’t know the last time I hula hooped, but my brain clearly isn’t wired to handle such stresses on the body. Of course, adding an undertone of alcohol in the bloodstream wasn’t going to help either… or maybe it does, I don’t know.
Either way, I tried to hula hoop. I wanted a shirt. I hula hooped ever so un-graciously, in fact the hula hoop spent most of its time with my knees. They got to know each other a little; who knows, maybe hula will call and ask them out on a date. We’ll see…
Fortunately though, the Jager girls weren’t very strict in their expectations and had little regard for the form required to “win” a shirt – you simply had to try, and gyrate a little, in order to get the shirt.
I got the shirt.
--
Today, I learned about Jesus Ponies. If you’re anything like me and have no idea what they are, go ahead and google it. See what they’re all about.
If you already know what Jesus Ponies are, good for you. Thanks for not sharing with me sooner.
...I could have had a little more fun over the past few years had I known about these things.
_
I don’t know the last time I hula hooped, but my brain clearly isn’t wired to handle such stresses on the body. Of course, adding an undertone of alcohol in the bloodstream wasn’t going to help either… or maybe it does, I don’t know.
Either way, I tried to hula hoop. I wanted a shirt. I hula hooped ever so un-graciously, in fact the hula hoop spent most of its time with my knees. They got to know each other a little; who knows, maybe hula will call and ask them out on a date. We’ll see…
Fortunately though, the Jager girls weren’t very strict in their expectations and had little regard for the form required to “win” a shirt – you simply had to try, and gyrate a little, in order to get the shirt.
I got the shirt.
--
Today, I learned about Jesus Ponies. If you’re anything like me and have no idea what they are, go ahead and google it. See what they’re all about.
If you already know what Jesus Ponies are, good for you. Thanks for not sharing with me sooner.
...I could have had a little more fun over the past few years had I known about these things.
_
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Your customized itemized linky-list of the day
1) Snowmaking starts in just FIVE DAYS!!!!
2) There really are DIAMONDS in the sky!
2a) ‘Diamonds’ doesn’t look right when in all-caps
3) Lucy in the sky with diamonds.
4) Wolf pack
5) Rockstar Uproar today – short day for me!
6) Great American Beer Festival Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
7)
8) What.
9) I miss Vegas
10) I want some NC BBQ
_
2) There really are DIAMONDS in the sky!
2a) ‘Diamonds’ doesn’t look right when in all-caps
3) Lucy in the sky with diamonds.
4) Wolf pack
5) Rockstar Uproar today – short day for me!
6) Great American Beer Festival Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
7)
8) What.
9) I miss Vegas
10) I want some NC BBQ
_
Monday, September 13, 2010
Vegas Recap v2.0 …and a fortune cookie.
Here’s a short linked list for your viewing pleasure as an exploratory recap of my trip to Vegas. For those of you who haven’t been, this will serve as a nice highlight of what you can expect if/when you go.
Joe’s Stone Crab
Mandalay Bay Beach
Planet Hollywood’s Pleasure Pit
Cabo Wabo
Pink’s famous hot dogs
Bellagio’s fountain
B – BeatleShow Tribute! (The Beatles’ tribute band)
City Center
And much, much more
Also to note: upon my returned from Vegas, there sat on my desk at work was a fortune cookie along with a postcard from Merrill Lynch Wealth Management which read, “what does your future hold?” Apparently it was ‘401(k) day’ while I was gone… at least that’s what the card said.
I didn’t know such a day existed, but it does.
_
Joe’s Stone Crab
Mandalay Bay Beach
Planet Hollywood’s Pleasure Pit
Cabo Wabo
Pink’s famous hot dogs
Bellagio’s fountain
B – BeatleShow Tribute! (The Beatles’ tribute band)
City Center
And much, much more
Also to note: upon my returned from Vegas, there sat on my desk at work was a fortune cookie along with a postcard from Merrill Lynch Wealth Management which read, “what does your future hold?” Apparently it was ‘401(k) day’ while I was gone… at least that’s what the card said.
I didn’t know such a day existed, but it does.
_
Monday, August 2, 2010
Water bottle caps
A couple weekends ago while I was at Red Rocks for The String Cheese Incident, I had bought a bottle of water. Like many venues, they take away the cap so you can’t fill the bottle and hurl it like a projectile… or maybe it just makes cleanup easier for the employees – I don’t know. Well, for the second show I was smart and brought a cap from home that came from a similar sized bottle. I knew I was sure to not spill any water during the evening from that moment forward.
So, Saturday night I bought another bottle of water, went to twist on my from-home cap, and it didn’t fit. Turns out not all bottle caps are created equal, and I wasn’t aware that there are different gauges for basically the same size bottles… who knew! Fortunately though, I was able to twist the cap on and re-thread it on an angle so that there was at least a top on the bottle. It wasn’t water-tight, but it was a cap nonetheless.
Sure, I could have brought my own bottle-of-water-with-cap into the show, but that was of little interest to me at the time – that’s just more to carry when I’m supposed to be carrying an alcoholic beverage.
_
So, Saturday night I bought another bottle of water, went to twist on my from-home cap, and it didn’t fit. Turns out not all bottle caps are created equal, and I wasn’t aware that there are different gauges for basically the same size bottles… who knew! Fortunately though, I was able to twist the cap on and re-thread it on an angle so that there was at least a top on the bottle. It wasn’t water-tight, but it was a cap nonetheless.
Sure, I could have brought my own bottle-of-water-with-cap into the show, but that was of little interest to me at the time – that’s just more to carry when I’m supposed to be carrying an alcoholic beverage.
_
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Dear, good time: I had you. (aka: The String Cheese Incident)
Welcome back!
It’s Tuesday and I’m back as well; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights were spent at Red Rocks Amphitheatre at The String Cheese Incident shows. Knowing ahead of time I’d need a day to recover, I took Monday (yesterday) off, and last Friday for good measure as well.
I hadn’t seen SCI before but had a good idea of what to expect going into the weekend: good people, good music, and a good experience. Everyone I met was friendly, fun, and downright cool. I can’t complain about anyone or anything from the weekend.
Here are some highlights from the weekend:
- Skydivers TWICE on Saturday (once with smoke trails during daylight, and again late into the night with sparkler trails)
- THE best chicken burrito I’ve ever had (RR now has both a burrito station AND a nacho station!!!)
- Sore calves and back
- A pseudo-broken toe (post-Saturday show back-at-home-door-jam-slamming event)
- Sailor Jerry’s spiced rum (beats Captain Morgan any day of the week)
- A slew of beer and water
- The guy with a hat similar to mine (2 nights), the girl who offered me whiskey (2 nights), Simon & Kris (Simon was from England and has been here since ’91, namely due to the availability of skydiving in America), and the guy with the birthday Sunday night
- The best light show I’ve seen
- Great music
- Nonstop dancing, boogying, and grooving all night long (all nights)
Now that I’ve been indoctrinated, I can’t wait to see SCI again. I also wonder why I haven’t given them any attention until now… clearly I’ve been missing out!
All in all, this should sum things up nicely: after last weekend’s “Incidents”, I’m adding The String Cheese Incident near the top of my favorite live bands list. I look forward to seeing them again, and to downloading (legally) as many of their shows as I possibly can.
Well done, good time… well done.
_
It’s Tuesday and I’m back as well; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights were spent at Red Rocks Amphitheatre at The String Cheese Incident shows. Knowing ahead of time I’d need a day to recover, I took Monday (yesterday) off, and last Friday for good measure as well.
I hadn’t seen SCI before but had a good idea of what to expect going into the weekend: good people, good music, and a good experience. Everyone I met was friendly, fun, and downright cool. I can’t complain about anyone or anything from the weekend.
Here are some highlights from the weekend:
- Skydivers TWICE on Saturday (once with smoke trails during daylight, and again late into the night with sparkler trails)
- THE best chicken burrito I’ve ever had (RR now has both a burrito station AND a nacho station!!!)
- Sore calves and back
- A pseudo-broken toe (post-Saturday show back-at-home-door-jam-slamming event)
- Sailor Jerry’s spiced rum (beats Captain Morgan any day of the week)
- A slew of beer and water
- The guy with a hat similar to mine (2 nights), the girl who offered me whiskey (2 nights), Simon & Kris (Simon was from England and has been here since ’91, namely due to the availability of skydiving in America), and the guy with the birthday Sunday night
- The best light show I’ve seen
- Great music
- Nonstop dancing, boogying, and grooving all night long (all nights)
Now that I’ve been indoctrinated, I can’t wait to see SCI again. I also wonder why I haven’t given them any attention until now… clearly I’ve been missing out!
All in all, this should sum things up nicely: after last weekend’s “Incidents”, I’m adding The String Cheese Incident near the top of my favorite live bands list. I look forward to seeing them again, and to downloading (legally) as many of their shows as I possibly can.
Well done, good time… well done.
_
Monday, May 24, 2010
FaceMan. …What?
I ended up at Pete’s Monkey Bar (formerly Dulcinea’s 100th Monkey) Saturday night for a few drinks and some live music. I love going to Pete’s, it’s a very comfortable place and I feel at home there – good people, good atmosphere, and good music. I was a little hesitant to go Saturday because Pete’s doesn’t usually post who is playing, and I like to do my research on the bands ahead of time to make sure I’m going to enjoy them. I ended up going anyway, and wow, what an experience.
FaceMan was playing that night. Who (or what) is Faceman? FaceMan is a band with a very interesting gimmick: the singer/lead guy comes walking through the front door after the music has started wearing a silver/grey suit with a contraption on his shoulders which fashions a box around his head that has vents on all sides and spinning lights on top (which he turns on and off throughout the show). Needless to say, I was surprised by what I saw, and honestly, I was a little apprehensive of what was going to follow.
And so the show went on, silver-box-with-spinning-lights-over-some-guy’s-head and all. They also had a special guest, a harmonica player called Medicine who added serious depth to the music – who should always play with Faceman from here on out. Oh, and there were two projector screens near the ceiling, and a silver robot looking thing centered in front (something like you would find on Mystery Science Theater 3000)… with a light that kept changing colors (what I thought to be an eye), and a mouth with fiery-orange teeth… fun right? It was.
You see, the projectors played snippets of video along with the music (think Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and the Wizard of Oz, but with different videos). And although the music and video weren’t in perfect synchronization, it was still pretty damn cool. Every now and then the video would become two eyes, and that’s when you could see it: two eyes, a nose and a mouth of a giant something (see below).
As the music went on and the videos kept changing, it began to make sense… this wasn’t about the band members; Faceman is about the music, the show, and the experience.
FaceMan, I have to hand it to you – you did a great job. Your music was surprisingly good and your gimmick worked very well with the crowd. I definitely look forward to seeing you again.
And Pete – thanks again for another great night. You guys are awesome.
Pete's Monkey Bar: http://www.petesmonkeybar.com/
Pete's on Facebook: www.facebook.com/petesmonkeybar
_
Monday, May 10, 2010
30 Seconds To Mars: Shaping the musician’s mind
~The following was written shortly after the 30 Seconds To Mars show at The Fillmore in Denver, CO on Saturday May 8, 2010~
Some people won't get it, but I do. Tonight’s show changed lives. I don't know that 30STM knows it, but they have shaped a small part of tomorrow’s musicians. Tonight, 30 Seconds To Mars brought the crowd on stage, literally. They brought people of all ages onto the stage; the ultimate showcasing of their fans. Wow, what a feeling! I remember going to club shows when I was young... We were so close that we could touch the stage, and sometimes even the band as they played! Moments like that have made a lasting impression on my life, and may have even impacted me in small ways, causing me to become who I am today. I remember it being absolutely awesome; I still think it is…
Tonight’s 30 Seconds To Mars show was awe-inspiring.
I can only imagine if I were a teenager again, like those standing on stage at The Fillmore before a sold-out crowd, or like those witnessing their peers as they were invited on stage by a band they all adore... I can only imagine if I were on stage with them! Wow, what a memory, what an impression that would be! What an impression that was…
I firmly believe that acts like this are what shape minds and futures. Whether they realize it or not, 30STM has surely instilled a sense of adventure, of determination, and of creativity in at least a few of the minds both on stage and in the crowd tonight; a sense to follow their dreams and become a musician… or maybe even a rock star.
Thank you, 30 Seconds To Mars; you truly are great.
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Some people won't get it, but I do. Tonight’s show changed lives. I don't know that 30STM knows it, but they have shaped a small part of tomorrow’s musicians. Tonight, 30 Seconds To Mars brought the crowd on stage, literally. They brought people of all ages onto the stage; the ultimate showcasing of their fans. Wow, what a feeling! I remember going to club shows when I was young... We were so close that we could touch the stage, and sometimes even the band as they played! Moments like that have made a lasting impression on my life, and may have even impacted me in small ways, causing me to become who I am today. I remember it being absolutely awesome; I still think it is…
Tonight’s 30 Seconds To Mars show was awe-inspiring.
I can only imagine if I were a teenager again, like those standing on stage at The Fillmore before a sold-out crowd, or like those witnessing their peers as they were invited on stage by a band they all adore... I can only imagine if I were on stage with them! Wow, what a memory, what an impression that would be! What an impression that was…
I firmly believe that acts like this are what shape minds and futures. Whether they realize it or not, 30STM has surely instilled a sense of adventure, of determination, and of creativity in at least a few of the minds both on stage and in the crowd tonight; a sense to follow their dreams and become a musician… or maybe even a rock star.
Thank you, 30 Seconds To Mars; you truly are great.
_
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