I saw The Breeders in Austin, here's a concert review

The year was 1998.

Or maybe it was 1999.

I had picked up Last Splash in the bargain bin a few years ago but it hadn't clicked with me. There is so much more music to consume when you're in college, so even though the album didn't gel with me, I was still happy to pick it up for "Cannonball" and "Divine Hammer" alone. So I moved on to  other albums and pretty much forgot about Last Splash. However, in the late 90's I was working out and I was bored, so I took Last Splash along.

Somewhere during a crazy long bike ride up an imaginary hill, "Do You Love Me Now?" came on and it punched me in the chest. How could this album not clicked with me?

Sure, there's some slow songs but they're weird, slow good songs (hello "Roi").  I've always thought Last Splash  was a prefect combination of surf and grunge, thoughtful but fun.  The soundscape is served on a  on a canvas of angst, forlorn love and...well, I guess bongs.  It's not a perfect album, but it's a perfect 90's album. It's charming, sad and above all, catchy. You will be humming the guitar melodies just as much as  the vocal melodies when you get hooked on the album. I can't go on without mentioning  Kim and Kelley Deal's vocals. Kim has this breathy thing going on that is amazing (surprisingly not annoying) and when the sisters sing together, it's quite lovely.

On a side note, I always loved that the band didn't try to sell itself as a "girl band" but as a band that happened to have three woman. Kim Deal was (and is) hot, in part, because she doesn't give a damn what you think.

All this is to say that the album, like all good albums, slowly weaseled its way into my heart.  

Once Napster came around I quickly picked up Safari and parts of Pod...and I also discovered the lovely and beautiful Hank William's cover,  "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)", which was a b-side off the "Divine Hammer" single.

So damn good.

I was pretty obsessed with their discography for awhile so I was excited when I learned they were coming back in the early 2000's. However, I was a disappointed with both  Title TK and Mountain Battles.   Both albums (with a few exceptions) seemed to lack the sugar rush and charm of Last Splash. The albums seemed more straight ahead, less playful but to be honest, I have never given either album a fair shake. My favorite song of this era is the insanely good cover of "Wicked Little Town". 

All this is to say when I heard a new The Breeders album was in the works last year, I was still excited to hear the new songs. I was unable to see them the last time they played in Austin, but this time I wouldn't let the opportunity pass.

Last year I had missed out on Spoon tickets here in SA (sold out in less than 3 minutes), so I was determined not to miss out on The Breeders. The concert was in Austin at Emo's and it is a much larger venue than the Aztec for Spoon and there were plenty of tickets.  I told a colleague who loves 90's rock and he decided he would join me. He's a bit of a stoner so I thought for sure he would be high or get high, but he was stone cold sober the whole trip. 

We left for Austin and had possibly the best traffic I have ever had on my way to Austin. We left SA around 6:45 on a Saturday night and there was no traffic, it was as if it God had cleared the way for us to be perfectly on-time. We arrived at Emos' a little after 8:00, and walked right in after a security check point, reminding me that it was 2018 and not 1999.

I had never been to Emo's and it was pretty cool place. Spacious, clean and reasonably priced drinks. Couldn't complain a bit. I bought a Lone Star (it was cheap) and C bought a Dos XX as we waited for the first band to start.

A punk band from Baltimore, Post Pink opened and they were impressively loud and energetic. A dash of the Ramones with a little more anger/straight ahead rock. I liked 'em. They were a perfect opener, as their songs were short and to the point. I never got bored. They definitely left you wanting more, but satisfied with what you got. Two of the members looked like they had stepped out of 1985.

As Post Pink finished up their set, I realized Emo's was packed. It was a great turnout, and we had a great spot. About 15-20 feet from the stage, dead center, with no TALL GUYS in sight. 

After a short break, The Breeders took the stage, opening with the opener from Last Splash, "New Year" followed by the banger from the new album, "Wait in the Car".  They pretty much played the new album but with heavy doses of Last Splash with a proper sprinkling of some of the best stuff from over the years.
 

It's a crappy phone photo to prove I was there.

The band was in high spirits, laughing, joking, generally looking like they were having a great time.  Well except Josephine. She just rocked out on bass, calmly, like a cool glass of water.  Kim was smiling the whole time and said "thank you" after every song, as if she wasn't expecting us to clap. Later, before "Drivin' on 9" she was giving Kelley a hard time, saying "She's even weirder than she is on stage" or something to that effect.  The band was tight for the most part with rarely a slip up and Kim, Kelley and Josephine sounded fantastic.

Drivin' on 9

I was loving the concert and I was just happy as a lark but it felt like something was missing....what was it? I mean, an extra beer would have been nice (I had to stop at two as I was driving that night), but that wasn't it.

The band finished up their set, and of course, it was time for the encore. Then it hit me. Yup, I had forgotten the song that captured my imagination all those years ago, "Do You Love Me Now?" started up, I whooped and hollered with excitement. I sang along with pleasure, never really thinking I would have the opportunity to sing along with this particular song.  I was worried about the harmonies, but they pulled it off like pros. Absolutely beautiful.

So, this show is definitely in my top five concert going experiences. It just had a certain quality that I can't put my finger on.  So if you're scoring at home, here's my top five concerts (not really in order, except for the first). Also, had to add a sixth concert on there too. That one is blog worthy all by itself.

1. Weezer, December 1996, Austin
2. The Breeders, April 2018, Austin
3. Foo Fighters, 1996 (1997?), first tour, San Antonio
4. Spoon, College Station, 1999
5. Weezer, Austin, 2011 (Pinkerton Album Tour)
6. Tripping Daisy, College Station, 1999

I know, I know, Weezer being on the list twice is pathetic, but these are the concerts I think back on with a smile.

Here's the set list:

New Year
Wait in the Car
No Aloha
Divine Hammer
Huffer
Glorious
Dawn: Making an Effort
Safari
Spacewoman
Drivin' on 9
Walking With a Killer
Fortunately Gone
S.O.S.
Off You
I Just Wanna Get Along
Cannonball
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
Skinhead #2
MetaGoth
Gigantic

Encore:
Do You Love Me Now?
Nervous Mary
Saints

8th Anniversary Celebration blog post: Ain't this Special??!?!

I noticed this month marks my 8th anniversary of blogging. The past few years I have cut back my blogging due to trying to write a novel (eh,not so good) and last year with more grad school.

Still, I like blogging and I like writing and the blog is still going.  I started blogging when blogging was cool (and when no one read my blog) and here I am, still kicking around, doing my thing (where still no one reads my blog).

One consistent aspect of the blog is the writing of LISTS. So, in honor of the the blog's BIG BIRTHDAY. I present a bunch of lists of random stuff.

All Weezer Albums Ranked 

This is hard to list with no qualifiers and justifications but I'm doing it anyway...also, everything from 5-11 is subject to change.

1. Blue
2. Pinkerton
3. White
4. Green
5. Red
6. Make Believe
7. Everything Will Be Alright In the End
8. Hurley
9. Maladroit
10. Raditude
11. Pacific Daydream

Chips - Ranked

1. Tortilla Chip (preferably low salt, organic)
2. Classic Thin Potato Chip
3. Fritos (best with bean dip)
4. Any chip will do actually, especially with salsa, dip or queso

Seasons - Ranked
1. Spring
2. Fall
3. Winter
4. Summer
 
 Food - Ranked (mainly)
1. Tacos
2. Pizza 
3. Fried Food
4. Peanut Butter
5. Bean Dip
6. Chinese Food
7. Cookie right out of the oven (when it really hits the spot) 

 Favorite Comic Books - Ranked

1. Any Carl Barks
2. Spider-Man (80's)
3. Excalibur (mainly Davis stuff)
4. Transformers (US 1-30 and later Furman stuff )
5. (TIE) Any 80's Marvel

Nirvana Songs I like and Frequently Sing/hum/drum to

1. Turnaround (I know it's a cover, damnit)
2. On a Plain
3. Scentless Apprentice
4. Aneurysm

Things that are COOL that I have recently learned
1. I figured out I have been to more than half the US
2. In the past year, I have met students who had me as prof 10 years ago and 6 years ago respectively and told me they loved my class and still think of it
3. Read John Lewis' graphic novel series, March, picked up his Walking With The Wind for six bucks.

A List of Cool Americans
1. Frederick Douglass
2. John Lewis
3. Emma Tenayuca
4. Gregg Popovich
4. Dorthy Day 
5. Kurdt Cobain 

 My Children (RANKED)

1. (TIE) - All Three of 'Em


 Books I Have Not Read And Have No Plans to Do So (not ranked)
1. Moby Dick
2. Ulysses
3. A Separate Piece
4. Fifty Shades of Grey 

Music Ranked by Decade (NOTE: very subjective and not really informed, actually)

1. 90's
2. 60's
3. 80's
4. 70's
5. 00's
6. 10's
7. 30's
8. 20's
9. 50's
10 40's

Cheese I like - Ranked
1. Chedder (SHARP, you heathens)
2. Smoked Gouda (smoked just puts it over the top)
3. Swiss
4.  Colby

5. Pepperjack

Things I will likely NEVER DO
1. Fly a plane
2. Shoot a gun (again)
3. Spank a child
4. Take another math class
5. Shake Donald Trump's hand and tell him what I think of him and his tiny little pathetic hands.


Best Times to Be Alive (Complete)
1. Now

Best Time to End this Blog Post
1. Now

C's Donald Trump Poem

My 12 year-old had an assignment to write a poem about someone or something that upset them. She wrote about Trump. I love this kid!!

One day it may be lost in the sands of time, so I am going to preserve it here! It had to start with"this is just to say"....

This is just to say

This is just to say….

I’m worried about your mental health

You act like a child when you're in your 70’s,

You made fun of a disabled man,

You are rude and racist,

You have very bad grammar,

You even married a woman in her 20’s even though you are 71!

You dyed your hair thinking it would do you better, but it did the very opposite,

Why oh why?

You make me think if I’ll ever live past my 20’s.

Trump, Trump, brainless Trump….

Why do you even try?

You know you only won because of the Russians…

So you can back off!

And one more question,

Why are you so orange? 

Pic Dump: Spring 2018 Edition

Ya know, it's been awhile. Here's some cool fotos mainly from Twitter.

The show America NEEDS

Fragments of UPDATES

You know what I'm happy about? Spring is here (at least in South Texas).

It's time to UPDATE you on my life.

COMIC BOOK THOUGHT UPDATE:

I was reading some early 80's Avengers lately (some just sit on the back of my toilet perpetually). And ya know, what's the point of Wonder Man? He's terrible....as in terribly boring. Boring personality, boring powers, boring costume, boring, BORING, BORING. Why did he exist as a reoccurring character in the freaking Avengers for decades? Who likes Wonder Man? Was he anyone's favorite character in the history of mankind? He sucks. He's stupid. Also, he's boring.

LOS SPURS UPDATE

Just when I thought we'd land in the lottery again, they get good. Blah.

MASS SHOOTING UPDATE 
 
Did you hear about the shooting?

Just kidding of course you did, there's one just about every other week.

CONCERT(S) UPDATE:
 
Taking C (just turned 12 in March) to her first rock concert in June. Weezer!! (Pixies-Weezer in Austin). If you would have told me in December of 1996 after my first Weezer concert I would be taking my 12 year-old daughter to a Weezer concert 22 years later I think I would have flipped my lid. She's excited and so am I. In the meantime I will be going to the Breeders show in Austin a few weeks. One of those bands I have always had on my list. Should be a great one.

MUSIC UPDATE

I have been loving Sufjan Stevens "Carrie and Lowell". It has become my favorite album of his. Soul crushingly sad, amazing, beautiful. Listen to it and let it into your heart.

Also, Weezer's White Album is still so good. (review forthcoming sometime in the 2020's).

I know these albums are a couple of years old but they've been my go-to on and off for two months.

WE WENT MARCHING UPDATE

It felt good to do something, even if it won't change immediately. 

SICK BURN

Shared this on FB and my sister pointed out that she had a grammar mistake on it. Like, who cares sis? ITS A GREAT POSTER. Also, she didn't comment on anything else or like the photos. So I am deleting her comment right this second.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H: He said he wanted to wear this Beatles shirt ("All You Need is Love")

C - Hard to read but says Humans > Guns.

 

 

 

 

 

E: This poster was a big hit. It is also true. A TRUE INDISPUTABLE FACT

  

GUN CONTROL UPDATE:

I AM COMING FOR YOUR GUNS.


MOVIE UPDATE

I saw COCO. It was good. Surprisingly I didn't cry but I came close.

BLOG UPDATE

Blog is now updated. Good night to you, don't forget to practice being kind, even when it's hard. That's when you're really tested and your character shows.

Thoughts and Prayers are the Inverse of the Gospel

Yes, this is "piling on".

Yes, "thoughts and prayers" has already jumped the shark.

Yes, senators and congresspeople are now saying things like, "our prayers are with...." because the phrase has moved from a joke to toxic in a few weeks.

That said, whatever will come post-"thoughts and prayers" will serve in its place, another empty platitude in the place of actual action.

And that's the point. Prayer is never a substitute for action.

Let's try out the parable of the Good Samaritan with thoughts and prayers....

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.^... But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. The Samaritan told the man, "You will be in my thoughts and prayers," and continued on his journey. 

Or how about this one....


 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me your thoughts.  I was a stranger and you prayed for me.  I was naked and you posted on social media.  I was sick and you felt sad. I was in prison and you felt bad for me.

Or how about one more... 

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”  They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “My thoughts and prayers are with this woman."

Thoughts and prayers in the place of action is the actually inverse of the gospel. It's heresy. The good news was not about platitudes and "feelings" but compassionate acts of love. 

Of course we should pray for those in mourning and for healing but when we only pray for healing and fail to actually act to prevent further pain, we make our Christian faith perverse. God works in mysterious ways, but never though the NRA.

Similarly, I have found many Christians blaming the fact that God is "banned" from schools. 

This t-shirt. This was obviously designed by an elderly person or a 11 year-old. Look at those fonts, and COMIC SANS. A prayer in COMIC SANS.

Who knew that God can be held out of a solidly built brick building? Is this like the silver bullets of theology? God is all knowing and all powerful....well, except in schools! It's bad theology and it's factually incorrect. Students can pray, bring their holy books and schools must make accommodations for religious groups and meetings after school hours. It's also a slap in the face of teachers living out the gospel with their actions. American Christianity has become a cult of fantasy and anti-science, of trusting politics and laws rather than changing hearts. Embracing "winning" over ethics and morals that were supposedly important. Evangelicals see themselves as victims, even though they are in the numerical majority. American Christianity is in its final fits of it's spiral of death. Death is ugly but the rebirth is necessary. May God save us from the Christians. 

(To cover my bases #notallChristians)

Frumpy Wintery Fragments

It's been awhile, so here are some fragments from the fam.

Tucking in 5 year-old H the other night and as he was slipping away into sleep he asks me, "Dad, what's 15 +15?"

Love that kid.

Look I know every parent thinks their kids are awesome, but our kids have won character awards every single year, every single one of them. Pretty impressive, thank you very much.

As a reward each winner gets a free ticket to a Spurs game or hockey game, look the games are usually against terrible teams but this means in all eight games I have taken my kids to over the years, we are undefeated. I also know it's a huge scam to get you into the arena, but they enjoy it and so do I.

So, H won his character award in November and we finally got to go this January to his first Spurs game (against the Kings). We were slated to be maybe eight rows or so before the last row in the entire arena, but some old man saw us walking in, asked us where our tickets were and gave us a huge upgrade down on the floor, about 22 rows up. Random act of kindness...pretty sweet.


On the way out of the game H asks me, "Dad when do you marry mom?" "I was almost 27." "Wow." "Is that old, buddy" "Oh yeah." H half whispered. "When do you want to get married?" "15 or 16". I laughed. "I don't think so, buddy you would still be in high school" "Dad, it's my life, I can do what I want. It's my life."

E was in a local church production of Annie. It was really quite an impressive production for "only a church production" she was one of the "Hoover kids" in the Hooverville. This means our whole house has been singing the songs of Annie, now even a week after the shows ended.  I have a feeling it won't be her last show, she had a great time and she showed a lot of moxie and showmanship for her first show.

C continues to do great in school and run her photography business (although things have slowed down in the winter). She's an amazing kiddo, but she was out with the flu this past entire week.

The oldest always gets a little more rewards and the last few months, C stays up with me to watch some TV on occasion. Now that she's 11, she's been able to see some classics, Indiana Jones, Gremlins and whole bunch of Star Trek: TNG. Oh yeah, I'm a great dad. We're in the middle of Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (we skipped Temple of Doom and of course Crystal Skull crap). The other day both girls were sick and we watched Groundhog Day. So fun to share classics with your kids.

Quick Hits:

Last Jedi: Mixed thoughts, overall good but plot holes and some general blah feelings about some choices. Also, too many new Star Wars movies is a bad thing, capitalism ruins everything. Not excited for Solo. Don't care about all that crap. I thought Rouge One was technically well-executed but ultimately, horrible. I dread the idea of watching it again.

Winter Olympics: shrugs

Concert Updates: I got tickets to the The Breeders show in Austin in April. Can't wait. I missed Built to Spill a few years ago and now they are coming back on a double-bill with Afghan Wigs but I'm not crazy about Afghan Wigs and the venue will be pricey. Weezer is going to be in Austin with Pixies this summer but my plans are up in the air (India and/or traveling to Wisconsin). Speaking of Weezer.....

Weezer: Pacific Daydream - Yawn. Kinda terrible in a non-offensive way. Background music at a restaurant. Big disappointment from the White Album and even EWBAITE.

Dr. Mario: I got addicted. Holy Batman I am addicted. Up to 15 on Medium speed, trying out 17 (I skipped a few to  get up to that high)....can't do it. So hard. 

New David Letterman Show on Netflix: Thumbs Up. Wish there would be more than six.

Spurs: Sigh I literally sighed typing "Spurs".  Just not working out for them this year. The rumors with Leonard even more troubling. If Lady Luck is still a thing with this franchise, either something magically will happen this off season or the jig is up. Pretty crazy run though.

Prez Trump: A bumbling fool. A bumbling frightening fool.

Still watching a lot of MSTK 3000 on Youtube.  About half my week I fall asleep in bed watching one. Love it.

Winter: I am tired of cold weather and especially cold feet.

I should be grading papers.

So until then, take a look out your window and enjoy and don't forget to pray for world peace.