Posting with Pictures

Glassjaw was very, very good last night.  Extremely good.  Then they  played their encore (Stations of the New Cross) and totally lost me.  It was too long, too drawn out, and just lacked the excitement that they generally bring.  They played all their "new" stuff along with some great old songs.  Here's the setlist from last night's show.  Also a picture of the outside of the theater as we walked by on the way to Tonic for some pre-concert food and drinks.

One thing is for sure - Daryl cannot weigh more than 145 pounds.  If he does, I want to see the scale.  He was super flamboyant last night (which is nothing new) but he's normally a little more hardcore with Glassjaw - the flamboyance is very apparent when he plays with Head Automatica.  Here's a cool silhouette of the stupidly-thin frontman.  I stayed away from the pit(s) and enjoyed the show from a safe viewing distance.

I saw several people I went to high school with there - as I'd imagined I would.  Glassjaw is something like legend on the Long Island music scene, and whenever they play in the area, you're bound to run into people you know - some you like to see, others not so much.  Dan Durkin, Lisa Weber, Bryan McGrath (not Sugar Ray), Mike Woods, Nick Lombardo (of Evolving Habitat fame) - they were disappointed a little bit with the performance.  And though they sounded great, they were a bit better in January when I went to see them. 

Here's a video of "Tip Your Bartender" from the show - I was probably a few feet over from this guy.


Here's another picture of the backdrop of the set, their standard flag and green lighting.

I also got a new t-shirt - a black one with some rad "gj" design on it.  That  means I have to go and throw out three t-shirts from my dresser.  Also got their latest EP, Coloring Book, on the house, as I walked out.  Only problem was I threw mine in my back pocket when we left, and three blocks later it was gone.  I took Jesse's since I bought him his ticket.  Oh well - I put it on my iPod and my iPad this morning. Here's the album "art" - pretty basic shit.

I think I drank a little more than I thought I did, I am still feeling a little off today.  Definitely not hungover, but definitely not 100% functional.  I wore shorts outside today - it's thirty-four degrees out there (only because my sweats were in the gym).  Got practice at 2 this afternoon, leaving for Siena at 6 tonight.  A two and a half hour bus trip - a breeze compared to the longer ones.

Time to get the day going peeps, I hope you all enjoyed my post about me enjoying my evening.

Stories; Snain'ing?; Seething; Stupid Sir; Stoked

Stories
There are plenty of stories in the news, typically none of which are pleasant, but I will try to touch on some of the cool ones brought to us by our friends at wired.com.

- AT&T to buy T-Mobile - and the cost was only $39 billion.  This will create the largest wireless company in the US.
- Nerd Olympiad? - finally, an outlet for nerds to compete outside of the Mathathon and Science Fair.  Check out these contests, and maybe join in - anonymously.
- Brew Sun Tea - outside, I guess?  I wouldn't recommend it out here in the Bronx, with the air quality, but maybe for those of you who live in fresh air, check this out.  Kinda neat.
- Shoe Scans? - really, TSA?  Shoe scans?  As if I am hiding some sort of drug in my Air Max air bubble?  You make us take the shoes/sneakers off, that's not good enough?  Waste some more money.
- Looking for a Camera? - check out this helpful article.  I am always researching cameras, but seem to never really know all that much about them.  My subscription to Popular Photography is cool though.
 
Snain'ing
Woke up this morning and took Nathan out - and BAM! - snain.  A slick combination of snow and rain trickling down from the heavens.  I mean it is only thirty-four degrees outside, so I guess the precipitation is having a hard time deciding what it wants to be - snow or rain.

How freaking miserable.  I can deal with a little colder weather, but when the snow starts up again, it makes me seethe.  Anyway.

Seething
Another thing that is making me seethe is the bullpen - or lack thereof.  Anyone we bring in late in games seems to just fold.  Not sure if it's a mental inability to do it, a lack of belief in themselves, or the physical ability to get it done (which I know it's not because I've seen them all do it in HS).  It probably is just my fault.  When in doubt, blame someone else - in this case, me.  It's not so much a case of displacement, more like projection. 

How good do you want to be?  Me, I didn't have the best skill set, but I worked my ass off trying to get better - during practice and outside of it as well.  Some of these kids, I question that drive, that will to win, the desire to be the best.  Come in on your off day and throw a bag of baseballs into a strike zone.  Work on mechanics in the mirror.  I can't hold their hand all the way here.  I wish I could, but ultimately they have to want it for themselves.

Oh well, kids are different.

Stupid Sir
March Madness is cool though.  The games are good, and listening to Charles Barkley sound like a complete asshole on live television gives me a good laugh.  Dude sounds so ignorant you can't help but laugh. 

Stoked
For glassjaw on Thursday.  I've had these tickets for several months now and am listening to the new "Coloring Book EP" on YouTube right now.  Six tracks that will be mine after the show at Best Buy Theater.  Excited to go to a concert again - the last one I went to was glassjaw.  I guess I'm a fan.

glassjaw on March 24th at Best Buy Theater

It's been a while since I purchased my glassjaw tickets for Thursday's show at the Best Buy Theater in NYC, but I was just informed that they are playing with two Long Island hardcore veterans - Vision of Disorder and Mind Over Matter. 

And I also heard there's another EP coming to all concert goers who stick it out til the end.

I went from a 7 on the excitement scale all the way up to a 10 in a matter of :15 seconds (I know, I know - that's what she said).

Awesome!

Playoff Season

The NFL Playoffs are officially upon us.  Last night the final team was anointed postseason bound - the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks - following a less than stellar 16-6 win over the drop-happy Rams.  Hey, Danario, catch the damn ball.  Fells, you too.  Bums.  At least an 8-8 team is justifiable.  7-9 is a joke.

Here's a little rundown of the match-ups this weekend in the NFL.

Jets v. Colts - There are some good match ups in the first round, including the Colts hosting God's team, the Jets (the Jets are 2-1 in the playoffs against the Colts).  The Colts ended the Jets season last year with a 30-17 win at Lucas Oil Stadium.  Peyton Manning always seems to rally his troops, regardless who's out there.  The Colts are at home, laying three points.  They've won four straight heading into this match up, and I  like the Colts.  Plus, I'm kind of hating on the Jets because everyone thinks they're God's gift to football.

Packers v. Eagles - The Packers got in on an interception from Nick Collins with just seconds left against the Bears, to seal a 10-3 win at Lambeau, and a postseason berth.  They'll travel East to take on Michael Vick, err...Kevin Kolb and the Eagles.  The Cowboys took down Philadelpia yesterday, so the Eagles aren't exactly rolling, having lost their last 2 games (both at home).  Luckily for them, the Packers are only 3-5 on the road this season.  The Eagles need to find their offense if they're gonna have a chance - problem is, the Packers let up an NFC low 240 points all season (PIT led the NFL with 232 points allowed).  I like the Packers in this one - they showed off their electric offense against the Giants (who I'll decline comment on) and their stellar defense against the Bears.  The Pack is +2.5 points, and I'll take them in this one.

Saints v. Seahawks - Really, this one shouldn't even be close.  The Seahawks got in because the Rams couldn't catch the damn ball.  They're 1-2 against playoff teams and 6-7 against everyone else.  Their defense is suspect at best (25.4 PPG) and their offense (19.4 PPG) is bad.  The Seahawks were outscored by 97 points this season, the worst differential EVER by a playoff team.  The Saints, well, they've won 7 of their last 9 games.  Their defense is stout (19.2 PPG) and their offense is pretty decent (24 PPG), led by a guy named Drew Brees who threw for 4,620 yards this year.  Let's compare:  Brees - 4,620 yards.  Seattle Seahawks - 5,080 yards.  The entire Seahawks team only outgained Brees by 460 yards.  Think about that.  Saints giving ten points and I think they'll cover easily.  But it depends which Saints team shows up - the one who lost to the Browns or the one who stifled the Steelers 20-10.

Ravens v. Chiefs - Baltimore heads in having won 4 straight - two on their offense, two on their defense.  They're finally a well-oiled maching on both sides of the ball.  Wacco Flacco had a great season and their running game (Ray Rice) is a beast (1,220 rushing, 556 receiving).  They got the X-factor in Anquan Boldin and a defense that speaks for itself.  The Chiefs, well, let's just say my Raiders beat up on them twice - 23-20 and 31-10.  KC comes in playing some decent football, and surprisingly, they have some weapons.  Matt Cassel is finally showing fans in KC why they got him from NE (3,116 yards, 27 TD, 7 INT).  Jamaal Charles (1,467 yards) and Thomas Jones (896 yards) are also key factors why they Chiefs have a chance - besides the fact that they're 7-1 at Arrowhead - their running game was #1 in the NFL.  In a ball control game, the running game always plays a major factor.  Baltimore is -2.5.  I like the Chiefs in this one though.

Those are this weekends games, and who knows how much I will actually watch - there's basketball games both days this weekend - talk about being sour.  The game on Sunday is at 2pm though, so I should be able to catch the Packers/Eagles game.

Now I am going to head over to iTunes and listen to the new release from GlassJAw, Our Color Green EP.  It's only available for digital download, so I may be forced to wait until I get home to purchase this beast.  Based on what I heard the other night, these five tracks should rock and roll.

Head Automatica; Muse; Twitter

  Wednesday night, I ventured into unfamiliar land to see one of the bands I've seen many times live, Head Automatica.  Despite the fact that they haven't put out an album in about four years, I still had an interest in seeing them.  There is also something to be said for seeing live music.  The show was in Brooklyn, a far cry from the Bronx - it's mostly full of fashion-forward, preppy, hipster wannabes who are looking for approval from their peers.  And they all dress weird as can be.  Anything seems to go in NYC, but Brooklyn is a different beast.  Anything goes means anything goes.  There is no right or wrong way to dress, act, eat, etc. etc. 

  The concert was good for the most part, Daryl (frontman for HA and GlassJAw) sounded good and they played a lot of new songs from their so-called "new album".  I saw them a year and a half ago, and they said the same things before they played the same songs.  I am a fan of music in general, and Daryl's music is a vice of mine.  But for the love of God, put out some new music already. 

  Another band I am a huge fan of is MUSE.  Although I have never seen them live, I have all their albums and never get sick of listening to them.  Saturday, however, I break my drought and will head to Nassau Coliseum to take it all in.  They have been dubbed "the best live band" year after year and I am geeked up to see them.  It's a shame they have to play at the worst standing structure in Long Island.  The Coliseum is jokingly known as the Mausoleum because of the way it looks and the condition it's in.

  All kidding aside, this is the most excited I've been for a concert since Lindsay and myself took a trip to Boston with Paul and Jenny to see The Killers.  That show was amazing.  More amazingly, we flew there - a nice little 45 minute flight from LaGuardia.

  One thing I want to sound off on is Twitter.  I'm guilty - I have an account, though I rarely check it or update it.  I go on once a month or so and I'll stay on continuously for 20 minutes at the most.  There has to be something better for mere plebes like you and me to do than post 140 character messages to one another.  I'm also guilty of updating my Facebook status quite often, but I don't make plans on Facebook.  I follow a lot of the television shows I regularly watch (Always Sunny, Modern Family) to keep up to date on what's going on.  I keep the world (those who give a shit what I'm doing) abreast as to my thoughts and feelings or how my day might be going.  It's a great medium to promote sports teams and college events, and also to get back in touch with people you haven't seen or heard from for years.  And then you realize why you haven't been in touch with them - they still think they're in high school with some of the crap they write.

  It goes back to a post I had about abbreviating words and sentences, lack of punctuation, and overall ignorance by said users.  Is it that hard to write a proper sentence or make a little bit of sense while typing out your thoughts?  If you're going to spout off about every Tom, Dick, and Harry and everything else you find the need to let everyone know, at least write it in English. 

  I guess blogging is sort of the same type of thing as Twitter or Facebook, but you choose to read this (I think).  I have to head out and go to the women's soccer game, where I might go through my phone and delete everyone I have no interest in speaking to.  Then, when I get a free hour, I will go through my Facebook and delete those people who's posts make me cringe.

  I bid you adieu, blog-world.  Go Yankees!