File Under: Blues and Laser at Metronome

I'm writing this in the pause between din-din and show time. So it may be overly brief.

After leaving the kids at my sis-inlaw's, (thank you Aunt Lynnie) Ellyn and I headed south on the ol I95. The trip to Burlington was pretty quiet. Stopped at Coach in Freeport for Ellyn, had lunch at Three Tomatoes in Lebanon (good pizza), tried not to kill the stupid lady in the BMW who didn't understand the point of cruise control, and fought crazy winds up through the stunning mountain vistas.

We checked into the Windjammer and had a rest before venturing out to meet a friend for drinks. If you are ever in Burlington, check out the Vermont Brew House and try the Burly Irish Red, YUMMY! We also had dinner before we headed to the club (also very yummy).

When we arrived at Nectar's/Metronome, Jesus VaNacho, was still doing sound check so we had to chill at Nectar's for a bit. Eventually, we wandered up, got out tickets and staked out a booth near the front. Eventually Aya and Bryan wandered in and we chatted a little before, Jesus VaNacho took the stage. They were a very talented group, but don't seem to have an identity. During one of the early songs I leaned over and said to Bryan, "Psychedelic Country?" There just wasn't a consistent vibe to the show. Well executed, but all over the place. Then they simply went TOO LONG!

The Posse showed up about 3 songs into the opening set. They were in full force for sure.

After a brief intermission, the boys took the stage. Their energy was amazing. I can't believe how tight they are, spending about a month opening for GPN has paid off. Scott, Benny and Bryan were playing off each other like they were breathing. Amazing, drum duo by Steve and Matt. The syncopation on Machine Gun (Hendrix tune) was f@#%ing unbelievable. Blues and Lasers owned that stage and that club, despite the late hour. I do recommend, if you plan on attending a Blues and Lasers show, that you bring ear plugs. The boys like it LOUD!!!

Set list (thanks to John Carr for filling in my blanks):

Drone In A
Othermen
I Ain't Changing
Who Do You Think You Are?
Fallen Friend
Home Funk
W.N.W.G.D.
22 Times
Devil Wrapped Around Me
Machine Gun
Encore: Give It a Try

File Under: 1:48 A.M.

Just getting in from the Blues and Lasers show. F'n awesome. More Later.

File Under: E-A-G-L-E-S

Playoffs Baby! WOOOOHOOOOO!

File Under: Peggle

So one of my employees tells me I have to check out this game called Peggle. So I downloaded the Steam client and tried the demo. I am now a little bit addicted. Just a little. Right now they are offering Peggle Deluxe for a mere $4.99. You should try it, you'll like it. Bwhahaahhahha!

File Under: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

File Under: It takes so long...

Non Sequitur - Wiley Miller

File Under: What if you're all three?

Sinfest by Tatsuya Ishida

File Under: Lefsetz-Outliers

This post by Bob Lefsetz is a good read and is right full of a little something Steven Colbert would call truthiness. I hope all you young musicians out there are paying attention.

File Under: Game Damage

I hope this show comes to fruition. They seem to have no intentions of sucking up to the game companies, which makes me happy.

File Under: JamBase mention of EP

JamBase has posted an article about my favorite band (Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, in case you're not paying attention) and their soon to be released live EP. Skowhegan was a great show, I may have to break down and download itunes for this one.

File Under: Is Fairpoint throttling down heavy users?

Since I've started using the Netflix streaming option on my xbox 360, I've noticed a curious thing. I will start out with great speed and video quality, then after an hour or so, I start having problems. Even though I have the 3mbps tier, I end up with the show stopping and a message telling me that my connection has slowed and they're adjusting the quality. This ends up happening a few times until I have unwatchable video. I couple this problem with the complaints I've been hearing from other heavy users and I start to see a pattern. I think that Fairpoint may be pulling a Comcast and restricting the bandwidth for heavy users. I could be wrong, but I am getting closer and closer to paying the extra $10/month for Time Warner to get the speed I need.

File Under: Almost Cut My Hair

Davy Knowles from Back Door Slam gets to play with the master.

File Under: Annoying Record Labels

As I'm loading up my media player with guitar greats, I once again realize how short sighted the labels really are. I use Rhapsody's all you can eat buffet subscription service. This allows me to load up my and my wife's media player for the cost of a CD a month, also to access the service from any broadband/net capable device. To my point, there are some tracks which don't fall under the purview of this deal. They are accessible as only 30 second snippets to tease you into dropping the 99 cents on them.

The only thing I can figure, based on which tracks end up in this category, is that the labels are trying to protect what they view as high value properties. This is understandable, yet short sighted. Many people will just ignore those tracks, especially when exploring new artists. If I can listen to all but one or two tracks off the album, I'm probably gonna do it. Then if I really want those, I may decide to buy them (hasn't happened yet).

So let's say I buy it. Now they get their share of the 99 cents, once. However, if those tracks are ones I really like and keep on my player for months to years at a time, they will get a small but regular revenue stream out of me, that may turn out to be a larger sum.

Now we come to the "wait a minute" section. "What if you don't keep the tracks, then they don't get the revenue?"

True, there is a gamble that I will think the music is crap (and a lot of it is). However, if I pay my near buck a track, I'm gonna tell my friends how much crap it is and to avoid it. If it's just part of my large buffet, I'll delete it and forget it. Conversely, if I like it and keep it, I'll tell other people how great it is. Then they may download it at Rhapsody, or pay up at iTunes, or even buy a shiney disc. Now instead of avoiding the track, I'm micro paying for it, promoting it, and getting the label additional users.

I'm sure the labels will tell you, I'm just a whiny person who doesn't want to pay for music. Not so, I'm someone who has a disturbingly large number of shiny discs, that I paid way too much for in college. I'm someone who doesn't want to steal music, therefore I have a subscription service so I can explore new artists and back catalogs of my faves. I'm someone who will tell anyone who will listen, how great an artist is. To the labels I say, if you're worried, I won't like your music and want your money up front, maybe you should produce better music.

File Under: Well, his foot was always in his mouth...

File Under: Tribute to Alan Colmes

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Hall & Oates Pay Tribute to Alan Colmes

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

File Under: Now that you mention it...

File Under: While I'm on the GPN subject.

This is a poster I worked up for the Potterville Posse who will be conducting a food drive at the Grace Potter and the Nocturnals concert on the 29th.

File Under: GPN at Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival

One of my favorite little internet birdies told me that this show was finally up on archive.org. Woot! I know Tom and Matt will be especially pleased to hear this news.


Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, 9/13/08, Fredericton N.B.
1 Treat Me Right 06:53
2 Ain't No Time 03:59
3 Mystery Train 07:29
4 Sweet Hands 06:13
5 Stop The Bus 06:44
6 Here's To The Meantime 04:32
7 Ah, Mary 05:20
8 Pain In My Heart 07:08
9 Joey 06:29
10 Sugar 06:25
11 Paint It Black 08:31
12 If I Was In Paris 05:34
13 Watchin You 12:56
14 Angel Band 02:16
15 Big White Gate 06:26
16 Down By The River 12:51

File Under: Effen Weather

The weather this week has just plain sucked, and my business has sucked accordingly. Now this is our prediction for the next day and a half. BAH!

Today
Partly sunny this morning...then mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow this afternoon. Little or no snow accumulation. Highs around 20. Northeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of snow 20 percent.

Tonight
Snow likely in the evening...then snow...sleet and freezing rain after midnight. Snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches. Ice accumulation of up to one quarter of an inch. Early lows around 20 then temperatures slowly rising. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Friday
Snow...sleet and freezing rain. Total snow and sleet accumulation of 6 to 10 inches with the highest amounts north and west of a Caribou to Baxter State Park line. Ice accumulation of up to one quarter of an inch. Near steady temperature in the mid 20s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

File Under: Satriani rules, Coldplay is really f'n stupid

In case you aren't one of the 1.5 million people who have watched this already.

File Under: Gay Marriage discourse on the Daily Show

I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say Jon makes much more sense to me.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mike Huckabee Pt. 2

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

File Under: Andrew Ripp- Merry Christmas

File Under: Mirror's Edge fell off

I enjoyed the Demo, but it looks like I won't have to bother with the full game. Since the embed seems as dodgy as an Big Three CEO, check it out here.

File Under: Army of Two should come out of the closet.

According to Gamerpolitics.com a conservative christian investment firm as put out a "dirty thirty" video game buying guide for the holidays. Apparently, there are "homo-erotic" undertones in the blood fest "Army of Two." In other words, it's not the violence, it's the man on man love that is wrong with the game. Riiigggghhhtttt! Dumb-asses.

They also take on the moral corruption in other games. I'm glad someone is looking out for my kids, otherwise I would have to.

File Under: Works for me

Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller

File Under: Ozzyistheprinceofdarkness