Erik, Sean, Rebecca and I recently had the pleasure of seeing REO Speedwagon perform after a Friday night Mets game.
Some thoughts and highlights on the EVENT:
- Their hair was fabulous. Singer Kevin Cronin had a manicured Church Lady kind of thing and a couple of the other dudes had bitchin' lion's manes.
- They walked out to I Want to Hold Your Hand. You know - because they are the modern day Beatles.
- They played like they f-ing meant it. It was no joke.
(from some 2010 show)
- Rebecca commented, "I saw my friend's dog die as a kid and this might be the second saddest thing I've ever seen."
- The show was even more memorable than the Damn Yankees show I saw after an Orioles game in 1993. Then again, I can't remember if I even stayed for any of that show.
- Erik's air guitar sylings and his lighter app were great. At one point, Sean was trying to get us to chip in 5 bucks to convince Erik to run onto the field. Unfortunately, no dice.
- There was an almost fist fight a few rows in front of us. Upon further review though, it seems that it was more of a drunk REO fan trying to get another fan to sing with him which led to an REO misunderstanding. The beefy security guard had no trouble breaking it up. I was impressed by the tenacity of the security guard's sprint from his comfortable perch on the field to the box seats to break up the REO shenanigans.
- I was reminded by hearing their big hits how much I didn't like them back in the day. And they haven't had a PT Anderson moment to make me not hate them. Although they did brag about how one of their songs was in Rock of Ages and how they weren't sure they'd ever be able to sing it again in the same way because of the way it was used in the movie - nudge, nudge, wink wink. Apparently, it's used by Alec Baldwin to woo Russell Brand.
- Kevin Cronin let us all know that they used to be just a bar boogie woogie band back in Champaign, Illinois. At another point, he exclaimed, "I'd say Rock and roll and baseball go together great!" I can't remember if he said this before or after he boogie woogied on over to home plate and rocked out like a Beatle at Shea.
- It was so strange that they only let a few people up in front of the stage. Either let more or none.
This guy was not happy to be there.
After the show, I insisted to Erik that they had done More Than a Feeling. It took him a few moments to realize that REO didn't even sing that song. We then realized that there were many songs that we thought were REO songs but were really Air Supply, Supertramp, or Styx. On the subway ride home, we all came up with the idea that the band should go on tour singing all their hits plus all the hits that you thought they sang. It would be huge!
For those of you who don't read my baseball blog, you might have missed the story of the almost fistfight I got into at a game last season. It was the second time I'd seen the guy at a Mets game but the first time I almost got into a fight with him. The first time, he was being interviewed by two Mets cuties and the image was so funny that I had to take a picture of the guy.
And then recently I saw the guy randomly appear on NY 1. He was being interviewed about something.
I should read more books but I spend too much of my 35-40 minute a day on subway reading too many super long articles in the New Yorker. Anyway, here were the few I read this past school year on the train. It was only six books I read with two audiobooks (the last two) thrown in. Pretty pathetic.
Jennifer Egan - A Visit from the Goon Squad, 2010
I liked the storytelling structure. I liked the book for the most part but it didn't blow me away. It read to me kind of like an audition for an HBO series or something.
Aaron Skirboll - The Pittsburgh Cocaine Seven: How a Ragtag Group of Fans Took the Fall for Major League Baseball, 2010
The title says it all. There are some hilarious details in here. In particular - Dave Parker and Keith Hernandez are incredible.
Chad Harbach - The Art of Fielding, 2011
I really liked this book. Harback took some of my favorite elements from John Irving books and created his own style. I liked all the characters quite a bit. While I did like the first half better than the second, I wasn't as disappointed by some of the plot developments as Sujan was.
Russell Shorto - The Island at the Center of the World, 2004
This book completely made me obsessed with New Amsterdam and, in particular Adrian van der Donck. Shorto is easily the most readable historian I've read since Halberstam. My only complaint with this book is that it is too short - I wanted more. Read this book if you have even a passing interest in the subject.
Jonathan Ames - The Double Life is Twice as Good, 2009
It was nice to read some Jonathan Ames for the first time in awhile. This is a collection of some of his more recent short pieces. I haven't read any of his recent novels and am thinking I should.
Haruki Murakami - A Wild Sheep Chase, 1982
It was interesting to read one of Murakami's early books but I didn't like this as much as some of the other ones I've read. It was fine but it didn't blow me away.
Bill Carter - The War for Late Night, 2010
I don't even watch that much late night TV other than watch bands but I'm completely fascinated any time crazy stuff flares up. This book is incredibly entertaining and really connected the dots for me on the whole Conan-Leno thing. I loved learning about all the details that were years in the making and how all of the other late night shows helped shape the thinking of the top executives. I really should read Carter's earlier book The Late Shift about the Letterman/Leno stuff.
David Halberstam - The Best and the Brightest, 1972
This was the book that put Halberstam on the map and it is easy to see why. I wouldn't put this as one of my all time favorite Halberstam books but it is hard to think of one more important.
The second season was a hard act to follow but the third one was almost as good. So many great villains and so many dark places for Raylan Givens to go. This show is going strong and I hope it goes for at least three or four more seasons.
Angry Boys
This wasn't as good as Summer Heights High but it didn't deserve to get completely ignored. It was a little uneven at times but I really liked it by the end. I wouldn't be surprised if HBO doesn't carry any more Chris Lilley shows since they kind of buried this one but I definitely would watch another.
Park and Recreation
There's not much to say. The show is awesome.
Archer
This show is insane. I love it. So dirty.
Luck
It looked great. I loved the feel of it. I loved the races. But god damn, I had no idea what was going on half the time and didn't really care. I would have watched a second season but am not terribly saddened that there won't be another one.
Portlandia
Second verse, same as the first.
The Walking Dead
I'm glad they are finally getting off that darn farm. There were some very good moments and some not great moments. But that last minute definitely made me excited for the next season.
Downton Abbey
I admit - I was caught up in the hype. I liked this enough and definitely understand why it is so popular but this isn't mush watch TV for me.
Eastbound and Down
This was much better than the second season. Of course, it wasn't as good as the first but there were some really funny moments and completely surreal plot developments. They went out with a bang but somehow now they have to figure out what to do with one more season.
Girls
I gave it one episode before quitting. I'm contemplating giving it another chance but I'm convinced that I won't like it.
Veep
I didn't buy Julia Louis- Dreyfus as vice- president at first but I definitely was won over by the end. In particular, I loved the last two episodes with the introduction of that asshole congressman.
Mad Men
It was nice to have the show back. I liked the move into the mid 60's and Don's grappling to stay relevant. I like how the end of the season was mellow and didn't end on a shocker like last season. They have a lot of wiggle room on where they want to start next season.
Game of Thrones
I'd be completely lost without Alan Sepinwall's reviews. I love the show though and wish that the seasons were a little longer than 10 episodes. That cliffhanger to end the season was incredible and even more exciting than the end of The Walking Dead.
I don't know why it has taken me almost two years to post this but it still amuses me so I might as well post it now.
Check out the button that Chris Larry had at the beach two years ago. He said it was from a graphic from a fanzine "Fancy" that put out a Hecklers 7" awhile ago.
And then check out this picture of Josh G back in his pirate days.
This is easily the most uncanny resemblance since the Balgavy - Vencill connection of yesteryear.
.JPG)
