Happy Birthday to TD5 and Bughie J. this day.
The HOchieS loves yous.
Showing posts with label TD5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TD5. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Friday, November 30, 2012
A Knuckle to the Eyeball and Storm King
In the place of wandering off to a Black Friday shopping mess with the ever so thrilling expectation of being trampled upon and pushed by complete strangers, the HOchieS with Luuuiiissss, TD5 and a gaggle of children went off to Storm King's Art Center. It was the sensible thing to do! And we did not even need a knuckle to the eyeball to help us think.
Frankly, we've never actually gone Black Friday shopping. Or maybe there was that one time TD5 and Luuuiisss went...but since then, and even at that time, it's been all about Black Friday shopping at the Happiest Place on Earth - Amazon.com.
No, no. It's not Disney, fools. I thought we discussed this already?
It was a brilliant day on Friday weather wise. It was sunny (alright, that's not brilliant for me but brilliant for photo taking opportunities, if I must), and not a biting cold November day and it was in fact, the perfect sort of day to walk the acres at Storm King.
So a-walking we went.
Frankly, we've never actually gone Black Friday shopping. Or maybe there was that one time TD5 and Luuuiisss went...but since then, and even at that time, it's been all about Black Friday shopping at the Happiest Place on Earth - Amazon.com.
No, no. It's not Disney, fools. I thought we discussed this already?
It was a brilliant day on Friday weather wise. It was sunny (alright, that's not brilliant for me but brilliant for photo taking opportunities, if I must), and not a biting cold November day and it was in fact, the perfect sort of day to walk the acres at Storm King.
So a-walking we went.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to TD5 and Bughie J.!!!!
Was there cake this day? Lo Mein with pork? (on that I can be assured that TD5 had some) or maybe a cat meowing at your door at wee hours in the morning? Surely there only to wish you a Happy Birthday and surely not in some sort of twisted, evil cat plan?
Whatever happened, we hope it was a wonderful day.
Was there cake this day? Lo Mein with pork? (on that I can be assured that TD5 had some) or maybe a cat meowing at your door at wee hours in the morning? Surely there only to wish you a Happy Birthday and surely not in some sort of twisted, evil cat plan?
Whatever happened, we hope it was a wonderful day.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Kimbra and Her Magical Frock in Limbo
It's true.
Kimbra has more than half a song in spite of what many of you clowns may believe.
Not only does she have more than half a song (as featured on Goyte's one-"hit" wonder song that was all the rage this year), but her album is 50 times better than that of the aforementioned Goyte.
It's an album that's actually 50 times better than most but I'll leave the gushing for the end of year review.
Thus, even threatening me with housing her concert at Webster Hall could not deter me. Webster Hall's not that awful and it certainly is no Terminal 5 which I would have more than likely passed up.
But with TD5, Active Goat T., Alex and H1 in tow, I'm incredibly happy that TD5 and I did not pass up the opportunity to see the fantastic Kimbra.
We began the evening at Kenkas (sorry B.!) and ate a bunch of our favourites but nothing spectacularly strange as with past ventures being that Beetchie was not with me. I don't think that gives me an excuse for going there without her and I won't tell her that the food was really good that night.
Especially our awesome fries which is fast becoming the only place to eat fries.
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After a satisfying meal (and some trauma to the Active Goat's fragile, young mind of the aesthetics on display at Kenkas), we traipsed on over to Webster Hall for the best $20 concert I've ever attended. In fact, I knew the evening could be nothing but awesome considering that's the cheapest I've ever paid for a concert.
That alone is amazing in itself.
Ushered upstairs, we were met with the sounds of opener The Step Kids.
We've seen some pretty horrendous openers in our time but The Step Kids should not be lumped with the lowest of the low. They were more middle ground, I suppose. Musically, they sounded pretty good but they were a bit too much funk and too much on a 70's vibe for my taste. I mean, what business did these white boys from Connecticut have being so psychedelic, funk?! It was funny save the forced falsetto of one of the vocalists ever so often. That was done too much and everything just sort of blended into one song.
They did have an awesome little stage show though with the lights...
After exiting stage right, and then brushing past us in the crowd (yeah, the drummer with some girl squeezed his way past us after their set was over), we had a little bit of wait while Kimbra's roadies set up her stage. It was the point when her second microphone stand was set up complete with her boo boo tambourine that TD5, H1 and I lost it.
Some smoke machines later, a dimming of the lights and the extended opener version of "Limbo" playing over the loud speakers that things got under way.
It was quite the thrilling little builder of anticipation...I know I was excited as it's one of my favourite tracks.
There were lots of purple lights and soon, Kimbra came dancing out and straight into "Limbo", and she was dressed in an outfit that many considered doing for Halloween. I loved its weirdness and the blast of multiple colours that Kimbra came dolled up in. Soon, H1 dubbed the giant purple thing draped over her shoulders as "The Magical Frock" and so it shall be remembered from this day forward.
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Our time spent with Kimbra felt incredibly short even though she played just about every song from her album but I guess time flies when you're having fun, which is exactly what we did. We danced, yelled, screamed, cheered and marveled at Kimbra's genuinely excited demeanour. The girl was so happy, it was too cute for words.
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To recap as we always do, here are the highlights and lowlamps -
The Lowlamps
1. I was expecting hipsters. Hipsters are lowlamps for sure but what I was not expecting was probably one of the rudest crowd I have ever encountered. I don't know what the fans could be categorized as but they were not hipsters. Hipsters, at the very least, are polite and tend to stand around not doing much. The jerks at this concert were pushing their way to the front, cutting off a lot of us and standing way too close to us and others in an attempt to get up to the front. These people exist at all concerts but it was particular horrendous this night.
2. The Great Herding of Webster Hall. Marketing or herding, it was awful. After Kimbra was done, there was a herding situation of epic proportions that had us going down flights of stairs and into a section for "more live music", the bar area (in which we almost lost TD5 because he was very tempted to sit down and have one) and an eventual street escape. It was ingenious and pure evil at the same time.
The Highlights
1. Our girl, Kimbra! Her vocal range is nothing short of spectacular. She sounded great live and even better than on disc (if even possible!) changing up songs just enough to be interesting and not jarring. Her personality on stage was playful, joyous and again, she was just so darn cute. I think it's safe to say that TD5, H1 and I can highly recommend seeing her live if anyone is afforded the opportunity. I really do hope this girl is going to get a lot more exposure than she is being given.
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2. Webster Hall's Sound System. Everything sounded so incredibly awesome which H1 rightly pointed out at some point during the evening. It was clear, and fantabulous.
3. Two Microphones? Kimbra's vocal prowess is so intense that the girl needs two microphones to sing with. Two. At the same time. It's a spectacle. I say vocal prowess, while others might say she's a wide-mouthed frog. Same difference?
4. That outfit. The purple Magical Frock that completed the outfit was just dynamite. It wouldn't be a Kimbra concert without some weirdness/artistic madness and insane hand gestures on her part. At one point the Magical Frock got away from her shoulders which she mentioned too as "having never happened to her before...must be New York".
Kimbra has more than half a song in spite of what many of you clowns may believe.
Not only does she have more than half a song (as featured on Goyte's one-"hit" wonder song that was all the rage this year), but her album is 50 times better than that of the aforementioned Goyte.
It's an album that's actually 50 times better than most but I'll leave the gushing for the end of year review.
Thus, even threatening me with housing her concert at Webster Hall could not deter me. Webster Hall's not that awful and it certainly is no Terminal 5 which I would have more than likely passed up.
But with TD5, Active Goat T., Alex and H1 in tow, I'm incredibly happy that TD5 and I did not pass up the opportunity to see the fantastic Kimbra.
We began the evening at Kenkas (sorry B.!) and ate a bunch of our favourites but nothing spectacularly strange as with past ventures being that Beetchie was not with me. I don't think that gives me an excuse for going there without her and I won't tell her that the food was really good that night.
Especially our awesome fries which is fast becoming the only place to eat fries.
+copy.jpg)
That alone is amazing in itself.
Ushered upstairs, we were met with the sounds of opener The Step Kids.
We've seen some pretty horrendous openers in our time but The Step Kids should not be lumped with the lowest of the low. They were more middle ground, I suppose. Musically, they sounded pretty good but they were a bit too much funk and too much on a 70's vibe for my taste. I mean, what business did these white boys from Connecticut have being so psychedelic, funk?! It was funny save the forced falsetto of one of the vocalists ever so often. That was done too much and everything just sort of blended into one song.
They did have an awesome little stage show though with the lights...
 |
| ...which you cannot really tell from this picture. You can be assured that it was cool though. |
Some smoke machines later, a dimming of the lights and the extended opener version of "Limbo" playing over the loud speakers that things got under way.
It was quite the thrilling little builder of anticipation...I know I was excited as it's one of my favourite tracks.
There were lots of purple lights and soon, Kimbra came dancing out and straight into "Limbo", and she was dressed in an outfit that many considered doing for Halloween. I loved its weirdness and the blast of multiple colours that Kimbra came dolled up in. Soon, H1 dubbed the giant purple thing draped over her shoulders as "The Magical Frock" and so it shall be remembered from this day forward.
+copy.jpg)
Our time spent with Kimbra felt incredibly short even though she played just about every song from her album but I guess time flies when you're having fun, which is exactly what we did. We danced, yelled, screamed, cheered and marveled at Kimbra's genuinely excited demeanour. The girl was so happy, it was too cute for words.
+copy.jpg)
+copy.jpg) |
| Scary at times, too. |
The Lowlamps
1. I was expecting hipsters. Hipsters are lowlamps for sure but what I was not expecting was probably one of the rudest crowd I have ever encountered. I don't know what the fans could be categorized as but they were not hipsters. Hipsters, at the very least, are polite and tend to stand around not doing much. The jerks at this concert were pushing their way to the front, cutting off a lot of us and standing way too close to us and others in an attempt to get up to the front. These people exist at all concerts but it was particular horrendous this night.
2. The Great Herding of Webster Hall. Marketing or herding, it was awful. After Kimbra was done, there was a herding situation of epic proportions that had us going down flights of stairs and into a section for "more live music", the bar area (in which we almost lost TD5 because he was very tempted to sit down and have one) and an eventual street escape. It was ingenious and pure evil at the same time.
The Highlights
1. Our girl, Kimbra! Her vocal range is nothing short of spectacular. She sounded great live and even better than on disc (if even possible!) changing up songs just enough to be interesting and not jarring. Her personality on stage was playful, joyous and again, she was just so darn cute. I think it's safe to say that TD5, H1 and I can highly recommend seeing her live if anyone is afforded the opportunity. I really do hope this girl is going to get a lot more exposure than she is being given.
+copy.jpg)
2. Webster Hall's Sound System. Everything sounded so incredibly awesome which H1 rightly pointed out at some point during the evening. It was clear, and fantabulous.
3. Two Microphones? Kimbra's vocal prowess is so intense that the girl needs two microphones to sing with. Two. At the same time. It's a spectacle. I say vocal prowess, while others might say she's a wide-mouthed frog. Same difference?
4. That outfit. The purple Magical Frock that completed the outfit was just dynamite. It wouldn't be a Kimbra concert without some weirdness/artistic madness and insane hand gestures on her part. At one point the Magical Frock got away from her shoulders which she mentioned too as "having never happened to her before...must be New York".
- 5. "Settle Down". Apparently, we weren't playing along. By "we" I meant the fools in the crowd. We were supposed to be singing along and we didn't (TD5, H1 and I did) but no. Anyway, she restarted it and the entire performance was the best.
The Kimbra at Webster Hall on October 19, 2012 Set List:1. Limbo2. Posse3. Good Intent4. Plain Gold Ring5. Two Way Street6. Marigold7. Old Flame8. Warrior9. Something in the Way You Are10. Settle Down11. Cameo Lover12. Come Into My HeadEncore:13. Withdraw14. Call MeAs you can see from the set list, I got the better song. Or rather, we had never heard that song before but it was quite the danceable fun song that I cannot wait to get on a follow up cd or something. I managed to get the better song over H1's. Heh. I think I got choked for that at some point.
In closing, (I don't know why my blog post just got messed up - unrelated but I cannot seem to fix it) it was a great night with lots of fun with friends and to Kimbra: Our hearts are already open.
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Saturday, November 26, 2011
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to two,
Happy Birthday to two,
Happy Birthday, dear two of youuuuuu
Happy Birthday to two!
Bughie J. and TD5, did you like my song?
Happy Birthday to two,
Happy Birthday, dear two of youuuuuu
Happy Birthday to two!
Bughie J. and TD5, did you like my song?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Blog-away I
Wouldn't you know it?
This right here is the 1000th 1 or 2 HOchieS blog post.
To celebrate this day of millions of characters typed, 999 + stories told and memories shared with all of you frenemies...H1 and I have decided to do a little Giveaway.
Think of it as pyos to you for pyos to us - for all your hilarious comments to the snarky ones or to the times you glossed over (mostly my) ramblings.
Of course, we racked our brain to come up with some sort of blog-centric quiz because why would we just give you guys things without making it interesting?
Now, I can't say my solution is interesting but it'll be as fun as you guys make it.
For 8 future blog posts with this one included, I borrowed a little daily exercise from one of our favourite bloggers. Ours may not be as gross as his but we're going to present to you a picture in a "Caption This Picture Contest".
I'll post a picture and in the comments section leave your caption to match.
The funniest one as voted by H1 and I will get a prize!
Of course, since we love all 8 of our trusted frenemies who participate actively on here (I luz you others too, I do!), we have decided to do 8 blogs of giveaways.
The person who wins day 1, is free to enter a comment on any other day if so compelled but even though you may have a killer caption again - we'll pick the 2nd best to win on day 2 and so on and so forth until each person gets a prize. Makes sense?
Okay... let's begin!
DAY 1: Caption this Picture
This right here is the 1000th 1 or 2 HOchieS blog post.
To celebrate this day of millions of characters typed, 999 + stories told and memories shared with all of you frenemies...H1 and I have decided to do a little Giveaway.
Think of it as pyos to you for pyos to us - for all your hilarious comments to the snarky ones or to the times you glossed over (mostly my) ramblings.
Of course, we racked our brain to come up with some sort of blog-centric quiz because why would we just give you guys things without making it interesting?
Now, I can't say my solution is interesting but it'll be as fun as you guys make it.
For 8 future blog posts with this one included, I borrowed a little daily exercise from one of our favourite bloggers. Ours may not be as gross as his but we're going to present to you a picture in a "Caption This Picture Contest".
I'll post a picture and in the comments section leave your caption to match.
The funniest one as voted by H1 and I will get a prize!
Of course, since we love all 8 of our trusted frenemies who participate actively on here (I luz you others too, I do!), we have decided to do 8 blogs of giveaways.
The person who wins day 1, is free to enter a comment on any other day if so compelled but even though you may have a killer caption again - we'll pick the 2nd best to win on day 2 and so on and so forth until each person gets a prize. Makes sense?
Okay... let's begin!
DAY 1: Caption this Picture
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Observations of the Week
On The Beatles:
I finally busted open my The Beatles stereo box set collection the other day and began listening. I've managed to go through maybe 4 albums of the 13 thus far and ...how surprising.
Having never heard an entire album on its own I have to say that that LSD is something else (and whatever other manners of drugs were dabbled with) - aside from the stalking, murderous intent and songs about cannibalizing piggies (but who can blame a piggyh for cannibalizing, I say), they were pretty normal those boys.
On Vampire Weekend:
Some while now, I was first introduced to VW through their Stereogum contribution to the 10 year anniversary of Radiohead's OK Computer. They covered "Exit Music (For a Film)", and while not the greatest it was certainly one of the better covers on that disc.
Then I used to make a point of it to get free music from Daytrotter Sessions. Hm, I wonder why I stopped that? Regardless, I picked up some live/acoustic music by them from there as well.
It was sometime later that the craze hit. Everyone LOVED them some VW and I refused to budge. I found them okay and never bothered to get their first album or at least I forgot to request it from TD5 and I'm surprised he forgot to lend me a listen.
This week saw the release of their second album and at $3.99 on Amazon's MP3 store, I decided I'd take that chance while acknowledging that I should try to not judge having not heard their critically acclaimed first.
After APW, I knew they were great live and was not sure how they would translate to studio. And my observation was that they sounded musically fun and interesting but there was something just OFF with the vocals.
Something annoying.
Something...hipsterish.
Wiki has confirmed for me what I already feared.
TD5 I will forgive for he knows not much about such things but Beetchie? Oh, sad days...I was stunned by her love of this band.
I spoke to her about it yesterday and she now blames me for ruining a band for her but in the long run, I was looking out for her best interest, I was.
Currently listening to: "Cousins" by Vampire Weekend. Hmph. I'll still get the first album in fairness but I am still feeling rather appalled at the moment.
I finally busted open my The Beatles stereo box set collection the other day and began listening. I've managed to go through maybe 4 albums of the 13 thus far and ...how surprising.
Having never heard an entire album on its own I have to say that that LSD is something else (and whatever other manners of drugs were dabbled with) - aside from the stalking, murderous intent and songs about cannibalizing piggies (but who can blame a piggyh for cannibalizing, I say), they were pretty normal those boys.
On Vampire Weekend:
Some while now, I was first introduced to VW through their Stereogum contribution to the 10 year anniversary of Radiohead's OK Computer. They covered "Exit Music (For a Film)", and while not the greatest it was certainly one of the better covers on that disc.
Then I used to make a point of it to get free music from Daytrotter Sessions. Hm, I wonder why I stopped that? Regardless, I picked up some live/acoustic music by them from there as well.
It was sometime later that the craze hit. Everyone LOVED them some VW and I refused to budge. I found them okay and never bothered to get their first album or at least I forgot to request it from TD5 and I'm surprised he forgot to lend me a listen.
This week saw the release of their second album and at $3.99 on Amazon's MP3 store, I decided I'd take that chance while acknowledging that I should try to not judge having not heard their critically acclaimed first.
After APW, I knew they were great live and was not sure how they would translate to studio. And my observation was that they sounded musically fun and interesting but there was something just OFF with the vocals.
Something annoying.
Something...hipsterish.
Wiki has confirmed for me what I already feared.
TD5 I will forgive for he knows not much about such things but Beetchie? Oh, sad days...I was stunned by her love of this band.
I spoke to her about it yesterday and she now blames me for ruining a band for her but in the long run, I was looking out for her best interest, I was.
Currently listening to: "Cousins" by Vampire Weekend. Hmph. I'll still get the first album in fairness but I am still feeling rather appalled at the moment.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Birthday!!!!!!
Bad kids that we are, although in my defense, I was really busy that day, we forgot to wish Momma HO Happy Birthday on the blog on the 20th. So, Happy Belated Birthday! You got presents so stop being ungrateful!
Today is the 26th, and there are wishes to spread around!
Birthday wishes to TD5, who is here with us again for Thanksgiving (and always should be, as I have stressed before)! We hope you really enjoyed South Pacific.
Birthday wishes to Bughie J.! What did Wimplebee get you? I'm sure it was not blubber-related. Where would he get such a thing?
Today is the 26th, and there are wishes to spread around!
Birthday wishes to TD5, who is here with us again for Thanksgiving (and always should be, as I have stressed before)! We hope you really enjoyed South Pacific.
Birthday wishes to Bughie J.! What did Wimplebee get you? I'm sure it was not blubber-related. Where would he get such a thing?
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Ophelia is Just Terrible.
Initially, I was supposed to go but then I gave up my ticket to H1. Turns out I had to go anyway because poor Aims and poor Aims' dad had a rough week, and I ended up getting use out of her ticket.
All this confusion to say this:
Who knew Jude Law could act?
The rest of the cast were quite good as well, with honourable mention to the role of Polonius. Poor, poor Polonius...
Well, most of the cast were quite good save the forgettable roles for Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, which is sad.
And Ophelia...
Oh, Ophelia.
How horrible and unbelievable her role was acted out?
Quite.
Our seats were wonderful, though the Broadhurst theatre is not a favourite location of ours, and the service was even worse but no real complaints.
Jude was 'speaking' to us - as in we were very much centre and could see him clearly and he us from where we sat.
The stage setting was great, and the sword fight at the end was actually quite good and not poorly choreographed at all.
Honestly, I did not think I'd be as amazed as I was for this production.
It was brill. Brill. Brill! and I am quite pleased I got to see it afterall.
With a city to take in and bellies to fill with food, we walked over to Katsuhama for some ...katsu. Heh.
My first meal in Japan was tonkatsu and since then, I've tried to have it wherever I go to try to re-live the good times. Being that I will probably never eat another piece of sushi that melts to pure bliss outside of Japan, I was almost of that mindset when it came to the tonkatsu as well.
Katsuhama has managed to be on even footing with that memory but chances are, if you use berkshire pig in a meal, it'll be amazing.
Happy with our meals, we made our way to the train with lots of time to spare and I managed to scratch two things off of my list in one evening! I finally went to Cafe Zaiya.
It was not as I expected honestly, and with close to closing, I suppose I could not expect everything I wanted to put into my mouth to be there (onigiri would have been a pleasant though I suspect I will not eat as great a one as I did whilst in Tokyo, either) but I HAD to have the "home-made" green tea soft serve ice-cream hoping to re-live the one Beetchie and I had in Kyoto.
Wow.
It came really close to be as fantastic as I trick myself into believing. In all seriousness, it was really good and I would go back there just to have another.
It was a great day and I'm a happy kid right now, who should get some sleep. It's been a long sort of few days past and I need to rest, and not run myself down as I usually do, opening myself up to sickness.
Memorable Quotes of the evening:
"Question it, Horatio!" - Marcellus
TD5: Ophelia was just terrible, wasn't she?
Or 2: Yeah. She was acting as if she were in a high school play.
TD5: And there you go.
WTF Moment of the Evening:
The people behind us who commented, "He (Jude) looks like Ryan Seacrest".
Some people deserve to be scratched with a poison-tipped sword.
All this confusion to say this:
Who knew Jude Law could act?
Hahahaha.
I'm just kidding; though I can say that I have never been a huge fan of his.
However, seeing his performance in Hamlet warranted respect.
The execution was everything on his part - his spoken lines to his mannerisms made him pure brilliance.
Even though I made a 'vow' not to give him a standing ovation, he truly deserved one and I had to oblige.
Well, most of the cast were quite good save the forgettable roles for Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, which is sad.
And Ophelia...
Oh, Ophelia.
How horrible and unbelievable her role was acted out?
Quite.
Our seats were wonderful, though the Broadhurst theatre is not a favourite location of ours, and the service was even worse but no real complaints.
Jude was 'speaking' to us - as in we were very much centre and could see him clearly and he us from where we sat.
The stage setting was great, and the sword fight at the end was actually quite good and not poorly choreographed at all.
Honestly, I did not think I'd be as amazed as I was for this production.
It was brill. Brill. Brill! and I am quite pleased I got to see it afterall.
With a city to take in and bellies to fill with food, we walked over to Katsuhama for some ...katsu. Heh.
My first meal in Japan was tonkatsu and since then, I've tried to have it wherever I go to try to re-live the good times. Being that I will probably never eat another piece of sushi that melts to pure bliss outside of Japan, I was almost of that mindset when it came to the tonkatsu as well.
Katsuhama has managed to be on even footing with that memory but chances are, if you use berkshire pig in a meal, it'll be amazing.
Happy with our meals, we made our way to the train with lots of time to spare and I managed to scratch two things off of my list in one evening! I finally went to Cafe Zaiya.
It was not as I expected honestly, and with close to closing, I suppose I could not expect everything I wanted to put into my mouth to be there (onigiri would have been a pleasant though I suspect I will not eat as great a one as I did whilst in Tokyo, either) but I HAD to have the "home-made" green tea soft serve ice-cream hoping to re-live the one Beetchie and I had in Kyoto.
Wow.
It came really close to be as fantastic as I trick myself into believing. In all seriousness, it was really good and I would go back there just to have another.
It was a great day and I'm a happy kid right now, who should get some sleep. It's been a long sort of few days past and I need to rest, and not run myself down as I usually do, opening myself up to sickness.
Memorable Quotes of the evening:
"Question it, Horatio!" - Marcellus
TD5: Ophelia was just terrible, wasn't she?
Or 2: Yeah. She was acting as if she were in a high school play.
TD5: And there you go.
WTF Moment of the Evening:
The people behind us who commented, "He (Jude) looks like Ryan Seacrest".
Some people deserve to be scratched with a poison-tipped sword.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Anticipation Has a Habit to Set You Up
For disappointment?
I'm having mixed feelings, I am.
For one, I'm still very pissed that H1 missed, no fault on her part, her chance to go see Arctic Monkeys (Oye, H1, it's no fault of mine either!).
More so, when TD5 and I got to the Highline Ballroom, the place was so incredibly tiny that it didn't matter where you stood - there'd be a clear shot of the stage!
Feeling rather hateful and wishing I had some chicken bones, TD5 and I did the next best thing we could do to calm nerves - go to the bar for some drinks.
I'd just like to point out that I drank almost every day TD5 and I went out. Who's the bad influence?!
Anyway, so in addition to feeling cranky that H1 and Beetchie were not in attendance, I was also very excited.
Yet, there was something off.
Was it the fact that I couldn't bear to sit through another horrible opener as Arctic Monkeys likes to pick 'em?
Was it the feeling that my nemesis was in the room somewhere?
Was it having to deal yet again, with the little biatch, obnoxious children that attend their shows? Did I have to get nasty with peeps...for a third time?
Or was it that I was just really nervous that I would hate the new songs?
The Arctic Monkeys at The Highline Ballroom on 08/03/2009 Set list:
1. Pretty Visitors
2. This House Is A Circus
3. Brianstorm
4. Still Take You Home
5. Da Frame 2R
6. Dangerous Animals
7. Crying Lightning
8. Fluorescent Adolescent
9. Cornerstone
10. The View From The Afternoon
11. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
12. Leave Before The Lights Come On
13. Potion Approaching
14. If You Were There, Beware
15. Red Right Hand (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover)
16. My Propeller
17. Only Ones Who Know
18. Do Me A Favour
Encore:
19. Secret Door
20. 505
Oh...that's what it was! The feeling I'd get when H1 blazed me for their playing "505"! I would not be able to handle the fury!
The Low-Lamps:
1. I have two evil nemeses now. The one that's standing in Suga'Face's way and has AT torn was there. I didn't see her, but I didn't need to. That bitch was there and I could sense it. It's okay though, he still looked at me. Twice.
2. "505". I can't believe those effs actually played it. We blame TD5. I was really sad this went down since H1 was not there and this is the one song she really wants to see them perform live.
3. The ugly merch. Really. I hope they release better t-shirts soon. That Matt Helders inspired hippy desert Native American theme is really horrid. Well, whatever. I can still rock it.
4. P. Effin' Diddy. Honestly. Sometimes I wish Matt would stop being friends with suspect people so that they stop showing up at my concerts. He and his entourage were annoying and the fact that Diddy Can't Dance makes for horrendous times. He did some version of the Running Man which is already a stupid ass move, to something he must have been hearing in his head because it certainly wasn't a beat kept by AM. During "Do Me a Favour". Ugh.
5. I did not see the Cookie very well. It's not really a bad thing though. He scares me, that Hooligan.
6. The new songs. Okay, so they're not really low-lamps. They sounded quite good and they are really good but I think it was the entire atmosphere half way through the set that had me feeling a little bit sad. AM started strong - all intense songs, all old songs, some of the new ones. But then, Arctic Monkeys changed. They toned out their concert vibe. They chilled out at the tail end.
When did they become such a super-serious, doom and gloom, "where's-the-fun?" kind of band?
They've matured. A lot. No longer are they the boys from Sheffield who are too shy to speak.
They're very confident now, which makes them better players and gives them better stage presence and it's not a horrible thing, but it's also not a very fun feeling either.
I didn't think they'd NOT change. How could they not? And I'm happy they're going off and creating different records because if it's one thing they can do, it's create a unique sound every time, but I guess I just need the time to let it sink in.
The bottom line is that it's all fun and games until some biatch comes around and "Yoko Ono"'s your band.
Yes, I went there.
I'm with you, rest of the band! You guys are still great! It's that ass who's the problem!
7. The almost complete absence of songs from the first album. WTF! No "Dancing Shoes"?! And they didn't even end with "A Certain Romance"! =(
The Highlights:
1. TD5 ACTUALLY finally agreed to come to a concert with me! All the way from Trinidad, he flew! That was a pleasant surprise but it just reminds me and angers up the blood that he's going to see MUSE at some no name Raymond James Stadium (eh? It has a name? but who knows it?) in FL. Psh.
2. That annoying rich, privileged Asian child was not there. Hooray!
3. Surprisingly, I was no where near obnoxious AM fans. In fact, I met some nice kids.
4. Okay. Can you people believe it? The opening act were actually...really good. Quite good. For a while, I was confused as to where I was. Their drummer was trying to channel Dave Grohl but there's nothing not cool about that. TD5 described them best when he called them "intense". Yes, Modey Lemon certainly were. Why didn't I buy one of their shirts instead?
5. Sound Problems. I don't know what's up with Arctic Monkeys but they're always plagued with sound problems. Their sound cut after the intro to "Pretty Visitors" for a long time, and then again later on. It was funny and they were good about it, as were the crowd. They made jokes. We laughed. And we were happy when they launched right back into it.
6. Alex's banter. So, he's talking a lot more now, and he's funny. He hit us with a few good memorable quotes:
"I've noticed some of you suspiciously singing along. So we have a new record coming out soon, it's called 'umbug. With a Hey-che."
And repeated the promotion of the album after the sound failed again.
At the end of "Leave Before The Lights Come On", he said "Thank you, I can walk to there by myself." to the bus stop.
7. Matt's banter with their number one roadie. I really need to go look his name up because it escapes me. But those two were having a blast while Matt was playing. It was cute. And Matt still managed to keep his beat even while distracted.
8. Nick! I don't care what H1 says, Nick O'MALLEY is a cutie and I like him. Nick O'Fatty he is not. You are wrong, H1!
9. The New songs. I don't think I'll be upset by the new album, which has me relieved that at least one of my bands won't completely fail me this music year. Already I had to suffer disappointment from Franz Ferdinand, U2 (big time!), The Streets (or was that late last year?), and some others I'm just not really remembering right now. It's also not looking too hot for MUSE right now, so I'm not holding my breath.
The new songs from AM are good. They're different. They're arranged oddly and I like them. I also like their cover of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds' "Red Right Hand".
10. I managed to snap "decent" pictures...for once! of AM! It's amazing, really.
I don't know why the other two in Modey Lemon looked like metal men but the lead singer looked like a preppy.
The Cookie's in there some place
I could actually see Matt tear up the drums for "Brianstorm" this time! Except I was too busy jumping to look at him...maybe next time?
Nick O'MALLEY.
Such a clear shot for some chicken bones
My favourite thing of the evening
Currently listening to: "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
I'm having mixed feelings, I am.
For one, I'm still very pissed that H1 missed, no fault on her part, her chance to go see Arctic Monkeys (Oye, H1, it's no fault of mine either!).
More so, when TD5 and I got to the Highline Ballroom, the place was so incredibly tiny that it didn't matter where you stood - there'd be a clear shot of the stage!
Feeling rather hateful and wishing I had some chicken bones, TD5 and I did the next best thing we could do to calm nerves - go to the bar for some drinks.
I'd just like to point out that I drank almost every day TD5 and I went out. Who's the bad influence?!
Anyway, so in addition to feeling cranky that H1 and Beetchie were not in attendance, I was also very excited.
Yet, there was something off.
Was it the fact that I couldn't bear to sit through another horrible opener as Arctic Monkeys likes to pick 'em?
Was it the feeling that my nemesis was in the room somewhere?
Was it having to deal yet again, with the little biatch, obnoxious children that attend their shows? Did I have to get nasty with peeps...for a third time?
Or was it that I was just really nervous that I would hate the new songs?
The Arctic Monkeys at The Highline Ballroom on 08/03/2009 Set list:
1. Pretty Visitors
2. This House Is A Circus
3. Brianstorm
4. Still Take You Home
5. Da Frame 2R
6. Dangerous Animals
7. Crying Lightning
8. Fluorescent Adolescent
9. Cornerstone
10. The View From The Afternoon
11. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
12. Leave Before The Lights Come On
13. Potion Approaching
14. If You Were There, Beware
15. Red Right Hand (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover)
16. My Propeller
17. Only Ones Who Know
18. Do Me A Favour
Encore:
19. Secret Door
20. 505
Oh...that's what it was! The feeling I'd get when H1 blazed me for their playing "505"! I would not be able to handle the fury!
The Low-Lamps:
1. I have two evil nemeses now. The one that's standing in Suga'Face's way and has AT torn was there. I didn't see her, but I didn't need to. That bitch was there and I could sense it. It's okay though, he still looked at me. Twice.
2. "505". I can't believe those effs actually played it. We blame TD5. I was really sad this went down since H1 was not there and this is the one song she really wants to see them perform live.
3. The ugly merch. Really. I hope they release better t-shirts soon. That Matt Helders inspired hippy desert Native American theme is really horrid. Well, whatever. I can still rock it.
4. P. Effin' Diddy. Honestly. Sometimes I wish Matt would stop being friends with suspect people so that they stop showing up at my concerts. He and his entourage were annoying and the fact that Diddy Can't Dance makes for horrendous times. He did some version of the Running Man which is already a stupid ass move, to something he must have been hearing in his head because it certainly wasn't a beat kept by AM. During "Do Me a Favour". Ugh.
5. I did not see the Cookie very well. It's not really a bad thing though. He scares me, that Hooligan.
6. The new songs. Okay, so they're not really low-lamps. They sounded quite good and they are really good but I think it was the entire atmosphere half way through the set that had me feeling a little bit sad. AM started strong - all intense songs, all old songs, some of the new ones. But then, Arctic Monkeys changed. They toned out their concert vibe. They chilled out at the tail end.
When did they become such a super-serious, doom and gloom, "where's-the-fun?" kind of band?
They've matured. A lot. No longer are they the boys from Sheffield who are too shy to speak.
They're very confident now, which makes them better players and gives them better stage presence and it's not a horrible thing, but it's also not a very fun feeling either.
I didn't think they'd NOT change. How could they not? And I'm happy they're going off and creating different records because if it's one thing they can do, it's create a unique sound every time, but I guess I just need the time to let it sink in.
The bottom line is that it's all fun and games until some biatch comes around and "Yoko Ono"'s your band.
Yes, I went there.
I'm with you, rest of the band! You guys are still great! It's that ass who's the problem!
7. The almost complete absence of songs from the first album. WTF! No "Dancing Shoes"?! And they didn't even end with "A Certain Romance"! =(
The Highlights:
1. TD5 ACTUALLY finally agreed to come to a concert with me! All the way from Trinidad, he flew! That was a pleasant surprise but it just reminds me and angers up the blood that he's going to see MUSE at some no name Raymond James Stadium (eh? It has a name? but who knows it?) in FL. Psh.
2. That annoying rich, privileged Asian child was not there. Hooray!
3. Surprisingly, I was no where near obnoxious AM fans. In fact, I met some nice kids.
4. Okay. Can you people believe it? The opening act were actually...really good. Quite good. For a while, I was confused as to where I was. Their drummer was trying to channel Dave Grohl but there's nothing not cool about that. TD5 described them best when he called them "intense". Yes, Modey Lemon certainly were. Why didn't I buy one of their shirts instead?
5. Sound Problems. I don't know what's up with Arctic Monkeys but they're always plagued with sound problems. Their sound cut after the intro to "Pretty Visitors" for a long time, and then again later on. It was funny and they were good about it, as were the crowd. They made jokes. We laughed. And we were happy when they launched right back into it.
6. Alex's banter. So, he's talking a lot more now, and he's funny. He hit us with a few good memorable quotes:
"I've noticed some of you suspiciously singing along. So we have a new record coming out soon, it's called 'umbug. With a Hey-che."
And repeated the promotion of the album after the sound failed again.
At the end of "Leave Before The Lights Come On", he said "Thank you, I can walk to there by myself." to the bus stop.
7. Matt's banter with their number one roadie. I really need to go look his name up because it escapes me. But those two were having a blast while Matt was playing. It was cute. And Matt still managed to keep his beat even while distracted.
8. Nick! I don't care what H1 says, Nick O'MALLEY is a cutie and I like him. Nick O'Fatty he is not. You are wrong, H1!
9. The New songs. I don't think I'll be upset by the new album, which has me relieved that at least one of my bands won't completely fail me this music year. Already I had to suffer disappointment from Franz Ferdinand, U2 (big time!), The Streets (or was that late last year?), and some others I'm just not really remembering right now. It's also not looking too hot for MUSE right now, so I'm not holding my breath.
The new songs from AM are good. They're different. They're arranged oddly and I like them. I also like their cover of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds' "Red Right Hand".
10. I managed to snap "decent" pictures...for once! of AM! It's amazing, really.
I don't know why the other two in Modey Lemon looked like metal men but the lead singer looked like a preppy.
The Cookie's in there some place
I could actually see Matt tear up the drums for "Brianstorm" this time! Except I was too busy jumping to look at him...maybe next time?
Nick O'MALLEY.
Such a clear shot for some chicken bones
My favourite thing of the evening
Currently listening to: "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
All Points West
Every time I make a declaration that I'll never step foot in New Jersey, some thing happens that finds me slumming it in that forsaken marsh of smelliness that is that state.
I was seriously considering getting tickets for this event for the Saturday August 1 st date but ultimately decided, as I always do, that going to NJ is just not worth my time.
And then VIP passes, for free, to the Music Festival All Points West at Liberty State Park in NJ kinda fell into my lap on Thursday afternoon.
While not the Saturday show I wanted to go to, Free! (did I mention "free"?) VIP Passes, a free round trip on the Ferry and a chance to see Yeah Yeah Yeahs after wanting to for a while and not having luck with that, the choice really was clear.
I'd have to trek to Assland for the greater good.
Plus, TD5 would get to see Vampire Weekend - a band he loves, as well as Yeah Yeah Yeahs and I'd get to show him that The National are pretty damned good and he should be more appreciative of their music that I tried to throw at him at some point last year.
Oh, and I'd get to finally see what the big deal about Fleet Foxes was all about.
All Points West 2009 @ Liberty State Park on 7/31/2009:
The Low-Lamps:
1. Fleet Foxes.
To think I could have slept at the hotel for a bit instead of rushing to NJ sooner and for longer than necessary. TD5 and I both agree that this was pure shart. We don't know what was up with this band but they are horrendous!
The hippiness really got to me.
The 'harmonious sound' really got to TD5.
I really wanted to pass out from boredom and they just seemed to go on forever, and ever. And ever.
It was so bad, that as soon as they took the stage, they summoned rain clouds and thunderstorms threatened us although it was really muggy before, so the cool wind was very welcome at the time.
The only redeeming thing about Fleet Foxes was that they had personality but honestly, it wasn't enough to save our ears from bleeding.
Memorable Quotes:
"I feel like we're wizards on stage here." - lead singer, Fleet Foxes.
"Yeah, I'm going to ride off the stage on a white horse." - drummer, Fleet Foxes
Nerds.
2. New Jersey. Liberty State Park was as expected. Smelly. After it torrential down poured on us, it was even worse. It was smelly AND muddy. Never before have I been witness to so much ugly and mud before in one area. Gross.
Here's a shot of the main stage -
3. Mud People. Ugly mud people. Ugly mud people who insisted they get all hippy with their bad dancing. Ugly mud people who insisted they get all hippy with their bad dancing right next to where TD5 and I stood.
TD5 half wished they would fall into it but I really don't think they would have cared if they did.
4. That nasty feeling one gets after being in NJ. It's almost as if nothing you do will wash away that stench and grime. And sometimes, nothing can. My poor shoes are proof of that.
5. Getting booted from the VIP Bleachers. Everyone knows that there are certain places you do not want to be near during a lightning storm and unfortunately, the VIP Bleachers was one of those places. What sucked even more was that we got stormed out right after The National performed, before Vampire Weekend and during most of their set. So, at least we know they sound really good but we did not really get a chance to see them very well from the Beer Tent where TD5 and I found shelter from the storm.
Sorry TD5...
Vampire Weekend from the Beer Tent -
6. TD5 and his inability to tell me things of importance. For instance, the debacle that went down involving our being able to come back to All Points West on Saturday for free. Due to the horrendous rain, Friday Ticket Holders were allowed to come back for free on any of the other two days. TD5 heard the announcement by Vampire Weekend and I did not. So, thanks to him, H1 and I missed our chance to see Tool, Arctic Monkeys and Tokyo Police Club. WTF! WTF, TD5! Thanks. I'm still a little bit bitter, as you can tell.
7. Q-Tip. On our long trek back to civilization, ie the ferry back to NYC, we heard Q-Tip at another tent. He sounded horrid.
8. If not for having had enough of NJ, and being way tired, I think I would have stayed for Jay-Z. He's probably one of the few rappers I respect somewhat and I heard he brought his orchestra. So I missed seeing him perform and it was a bit of a lowlamp because I heard him on my way out and he sounded pretty decent. Ah well. See how quickly I got over that?
9. Once again, The National managed to butcher performing my favourite song by them, "Mistaken For Strangers". Again, The National? What's up with that?
10. I'm fairly certain I saw that smelly kid from way back when I went to I think, Muse at Hammerstein on the ferry ride to APW. That was not cute for my nose.
11. Not having H1 there as well. And also, not being BACK at All Points West for Arctic Monkeys and Tool with H1. Thanks again, TD5! That's right, you will not hear the end of this.
12. Being so close to NYC but not being able to escape, nooooooooooooo....! Freedom! So close!
13. The Statue of Liberty showing me its ass. Not only animals do this to me, but the Statue of Liberty too?! It's not right!
The Highlights:
1. Getting off the ferry back in NYC was awesome. Even the rain puddles were different and everything just seemed so less scary, even if it was Crooklyn. Har Har.
2. The National. It was fun seeing them a second time, even if this time I barely saw them from the side line thanks to the rain. I did like that the lead singer jumped into the crowd and rolled with the punches the rain was throwing at them. That was cool of him and not something I expected. He didn't sound too fabulous but the rest of the band sounded truly great. They also performed a new song which was really good and I'm kinda looking forward to their next album, whenever that may be.
Also, the fact that TD5 likes them now makes me happy.
3. Vampire Weekend. I can't say I'm a fan nor have I listened to their album to have a real opinion but they sounded really great live. I can see the appeal and I'm glad I got to hear them live instead of a studio album. Though, that might just make me not want to listen to a studio album now knowing just how great they sound live. Uh oh.
4. My gross dry sausage sandwich and my cheesey fries. I enjoyed it but mostly because I was really starvin' marvin.
5. The VIP Bleachers were good while they lasted. I also did not understand the NinjAnts.
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6.1 Making sure TD5 was completely cured of his vertigo and that the swirly eyeball would not bring back his Lucille 2 Persona. It was only a highlight because it was funny and turned out he'd be okay.
6.2 Where's waldo? Rather, where's the eyeball? Floating over someone's head? Scary!
Karen O. was crazy as expected. I'm not sure what she was wearing... but her performance was classic.
Brian Chase was cool and I rather enjoyed that he never stopped beating those drums and that Yeah Yeah Yeahs continued each song in their set on his playing. All songs rolled one after the other with Chase's drumming as the connecting factor.
Then there's my Nick Zinner, who I love but curse him for not wanting to show his face so that I could get a picture, not to mention that stupid giant mounted crane camera kept getting in my way...
They performed lots of the good stuff - many songs from the new album, although not "Hysteric" which saddened me nor did they do "Rockers to Swallow". They also did an acoustic, stripped down version of "Maps", which while not the best was still cool.
7. The "destruction" of the microphone. Karen O. tried very hard to destroy that mic but it just wasn't happening but it was just not quite in league with her plans. It showed her!
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs 7/31/2009 @ All Points West Setlist:
1. Heads Will Roll
2. Cheated Hearts
3. Black Tongue
4. Zero
5. Human Fly (The Cramps cover)
6. Gold Lion
7. Honeybear
8. Turn Into
9. Skeletons
10. Soft Shock
11. Maps (Acoustic)
12. Y Control
13. Date With The Night
Best Song Performance from YYY: "Black Tongue".
Probably one of the best things to end the night was knowing I didn't have to rush to catch the bloody train back home and could actually stay in midtown that night. Phew, that was a relief and cool.
When we got back to midtown, I took TD5 to Sapporo for ramen, discovered they had a new menu of little eats such as kare-age which I had, and in need of a drink, I got a sapporo. Sorry, Beetchie! I'll try to not drink without you again because I know it's random I do and decided to do it when you were not there.
I know, I'm awful.
Currently listening to: "For Your Life" by Led Zeppelin.
I was seriously considering getting tickets for this event for the Saturday August 1 st date but ultimately decided, as I always do, that going to NJ is just not worth my time.
And then VIP passes, for free, to the Music Festival All Points West at Liberty State Park in NJ kinda fell into my lap on Thursday afternoon.
While not the Saturday show I wanted to go to, Free! (did I mention "free"?) VIP Passes, a free round trip on the Ferry and a chance to see Yeah Yeah Yeahs after wanting to for a while and not having luck with that, the choice really was clear.
I'd have to trek to Assland for the greater good.
Plus, TD5 would get to see Vampire Weekend - a band he loves, as well as Yeah Yeah Yeahs and I'd get to show him that The National are pretty damned good and he should be more appreciative of their music that I tried to throw at him at some point last year.
Oh, and I'd get to finally see what the big deal about Fleet Foxes was all about.
All Points West 2009 @ Liberty State Park on 7/31/2009:
The Low-Lamps:
1. Fleet Foxes.
To think I could have slept at the hotel for a bit instead of rushing to NJ sooner and for longer than necessary. TD5 and I both agree that this was pure shart. We don't know what was up with this band but they are horrendous!
The hippiness really got to me.
The 'harmonious sound' really got to TD5.
I really wanted to pass out from boredom and they just seemed to go on forever, and ever. And ever.
It was so bad, that as soon as they took the stage, they summoned rain clouds and thunderstorms threatened us although it was really muggy before, so the cool wind was very welcome at the time.
The only redeeming thing about Fleet Foxes was that they had personality but honestly, it wasn't enough to save our ears from bleeding.
Memorable Quotes:
"I feel like we're wizards on stage here." - lead singer, Fleet Foxes.
"Yeah, I'm going to ride off the stage on a white horse." - drummer, Fleet Foxes
Nerds.
2. New Jersey. Liberty State Park was as expected. Smelly. After it torrential down poured on us, it was even worse. It was smelly AND muddy. Never before have I been witness to so much ugly and mud before in one area. Gross.
Here's a shot of the main stage -
3. Mud People. Ugly mud people. Ugly mud people who insisted they get all hippy with their bad dancing. Ugly mud people who insisted they get all hippy with their bad dancing right next to where TD5 and I stood.
TD5 half wished they would fall into it but I really don't think they would have cared if they did.
4. That nasty feeling one gets after being in NJ. It's almost as if nothing you do will wash away that stench and grime. And sometimes, nothing can. My poor shoes are proof of that.
5. Getting booted from the VIP Bleachers. Everyone knows that there are certain places you do not want to be near during a lightning storm and unfortunately, the VIP Bleachers was one of those places. What sucked even more was that we got stormed out right after The National performed, before Vampire Weekend and during most of their set. So, at least we know they sound really good but we did not really get a chance to see them very well from the Beer Tent where TD5 and I found shelter from the storm.
Sorry TD5...
Vampire Weekend from the Beer Tent -
6. TD5 and his inability to tell me things of importance. For instance, the debacle that went down involving our being able to come back to All Points West on Saturday for free. Due to the horrendous rain, Friday Ticket Holders were allowed to come back for free on any of the other two days. TD5 heard the announcement by Vampire Weekend and I did not. So, thanks to him, H1 and I missed our chance to see Tool, Arctic Monkeys and Tokyo Police Club. WTF! WTF, TD5! Thanks. I'm still a little bit bitter, as you can tell.
7. Q-Tip. On our long trek back to civilization, ie the ferry back to NYC, we heard Q-Tip at another tent. He sounded horrid.
8. If not for having had enough of NJ, and being way tired, I think I would have stayed for Jay-Z. He's probably one of the few rappers I respect somewhat and I heard he brought his orchestra. So I missed seeing him perform and it was a bit of a lowlamp because I heard him on my way out and he sounded pretty decent. Ah well. See how quickly I got over that?
9. Once again, The National managed to butcher performing my favourite song by them, "Mistaken For Strangers". Again, The National? What's up with that?
10. I'm fairly certain I saw that smelly kid from way back when I went to I think, Muse at Hammerstein on the ferry ride to APW. That was not cute for my nose.
11. Not having H1 there as well. And also, not being BACK at All Points West for Arctic Monkeys and Tool with H1. Thanks again, TD5! That's right, you will not hear the end of this.
12. Being so close to NYC but not being able to escape, nooooooooooooo....! Freedom! So close!
13. The Statue of Liberty showing me its ass. Not only animals do this to me, but the Statue of Liberty too?! It's not right!
The Highlights:
1. Getting off the ferry back in NYC was awesome. Even the rain puddles were different and everything just seemed so less scary, even if it was Crooklyn. Har Har.
2. The National. It was fun seeing them a second time, even if this time I barely saw them from the side line thanks to the rain. I did like that the lead singer jumped into the crowd and rolled with the punches the rain was throwing at them. That was cool of him and not something I expected. He didn't sound too fabulous but the rest of the band sounded truly great. They also performed a new song which was really good and I'm kinda looking forward to their next album, whenever that may be.
Also, the fact that TD5 likes them now makes me happy.
3. Vampire Weekend. I can't say I'm a fan nor have I listened to their album to have a real opinion but they sounded really great live. I can see the appeal and I'm glad I got to hear them live instead of a studio album. Though, that might just make me not want to listen to a studio album now knowing just how great they sound live. Uh oh.
4. My gross dry sausage sandwich and my cheesey fries. I enjoyed it but mostly because I was really starvin' marvin.
5. The VIP Bleachers were good while they lasted. I also did not understand the NinjAnts.
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6.1 Making sure TD5 was completely cured of his vertigo and that the swirly eyeball would not bring back his Lucille 2 Persona. It was only a highlight because it was funny and turned out he'd be okay.
6.2 Where's waldo? Rather, where's the eyeball? Floating over someone's head? Scary!
Karen O. was crazy as expected. I'm not sure what she was wearing... but her performance was classic.
Brian Chase was cool and I rather enjoyed that he never stopped beating those drums and that Yeah Yeah Yeahs continued each song in their set on his playing. All songs rolled one after the other with Chase's drumming as the connecting factor.
Then there's my Nick Zinner, who I love but curse him for not wanting to show his face so that I could get a picture, not to mention that stupid giant mounted crane camera kept getting in my way...
They performed lots of the good stuff - many songs from the new album, although not "Hysteric" which saddened me nor did they do "Rockers to Swallow". They also did an acoustic, stripped down version of "Maps", which while not the best was still cool.
7. The "destruction" of the microphone. Karen O. tried very hard to destroy that mic but it just wasn't happening but it was just not quite in league with her plans. It showed her!
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs 7/31/2009 @ All Points West Setlist:
1. Heads Will Roll
2. Cheated Hearts
3. Black Tongue
4. Zero
5. Human Fly (The Cramps cover)
6. Gold Lion
7. Honeybear
8. Turn Into
9. Skeletons
10. Soft Shock
11. Maps (Acoustic)
12. Y Control
13. Date With The Night
Best Song Performance from YYY: "Black Tongue".
Probably one of the best things to end the night was knowing I didn't have to rush to catch the bloody train back home and could actually stay in midtown that night. Phew, that was a relief and cool.
When we got back to midtown, I took TD5 to Sapporo for ramen, discovered they had a new menu of little eats such as kare-age which I had, and in need of a drink, I got a sapporo. Sorry, Beetchie! I'll try to not drink without you again because I know it's random I do and decided to do it when you were not there.
I know, I'm awful.
Currently listening to: "For Your Life" by Led Zeppelin.
Only the Beginning
Green Day was just the start to a week of craziness.
With TD5 making a special trip to NYC just for the August 3rd Arctic Monkeys concert, I had a bit of a plan.
It involved spending time and a fairly relaxed few days with him.
But then, an unexpected bit of luck befell me on Thursday afternoon.
Suddenly, my week seemed quite busy.
TD5 had no idea what was waiting for him and really, nor did I honestly.
After getting in way late (3 AM Friday morning to NYC), he decided to stay at a hotel in Midtown.
I met him that morning at 11 or so and we hustled off to Adventure 1 of Day 1.
Lunch at Brasserie 8 1/2 as part of Restaurant Week.
OMG.
I was very impressed by them, and a little bit thrown by the fact that I was bouncing in there with a t-shirt and a busted up pair of pants.
The space for that restaurant was beautiful and classy.
The food was even better.
My pictures do not do the eats justice because for whatever reason, the food did not want to be photographed. Additionally, I had little patience due to hunger and did not really want to take pics in the fancy schmancy restaurant.
I did not even get pictures of TD5's food save his dessert - the blood orange cake, H1 wanted him to get. She loves Blood Oranges. Scary.
X, I thought of you. For my starter I had the belly pork slider. Beetchie, I also thought of you because for some reason it was topped with a quail egg.
That slider alone was worth trekking to 57th for.
Look at the porky goodness!
TD5 had the mulligatawny soup (and that too came with a suspect egg floating in it).
Next up, I had the lobster salad. Two pieces of lobster topped on a pea greens, diced mango and diced avocado. The greens I could have done without because they were a bitter type bleck I did not like, but everything else was good together even the strange gelatinous mango puree (?) type thing at the bottom.
TD5 had a pork with kimchee and daikon dish which was plentiful and okay.
For dessert, I had a banana bread pudding. It was okay and thankfully TD5 did not have an allergic reaction to the walnuts that were in it. Of course, I let him taste it and as he was putting it in his mouth I wondered if he had allergies to nuts. It turns out he did. Heh. Oops on my part there but it all turned out okay anyway.
Here's TD5's Blood Orange Cake with things...?
Next, it was off to Liberty State Park in ugh, NJ for Adventure 2 on Day 1.
Currently listening to: "Same Old Thing" by The Streets.
With TD5 making a special trip to NYC just for the August 3rd Arctic Monkeys concert, I had a bit of a plan.
It involved spending time and a fairly relaxed few days with him.
But then, an unexpected bit of luck befell me on Thursday afternoon.
Suddenly, my week seemed quite busy.
TD5 had no idea what was waiting for him and really, nor did I honestly.
After getting in way late (3 AM Friday morning to NYC), he decided to stay at a hotel in Midtown.
I met him that morning at 11 or so and we hustled off to Adventure 1 of Day 1.
Lunch at Brasserie 8 1/2 as part of Restaurant Week.
OMG.
I was very impressed by them, and a little bit thrown by the fact that I was bouncing in there with a t-shirt and a busted up pair of pants.
The space for that restaurant was beautiful and classy.
The food was even better.
My pictures do not do the eats justice because for whatever reason, the food did not want to be photographed. Additionally, I had little patience due to hunger and did not really want to take pics in the fancy schmancy restaurant.
I did not even get pictures of TD5's food save his dessert - the blood orange cake, H1 wanted him to get. She loves Blood Oranges. Scary.
X, I thought of you. For my starter I had the belly pork slider. Beetchie, I also thought of you because for some reason it was topped with a quail egg.
That slider alone was worth trekking to 57th for.
Look at the porky goodness!
TD5 had the mulligatawny soup (and that too came with a suspect egg floating in it).
Next up, I had the lobster salad. Two pieces of lobster topped on a pea greens, diced mango and diced avocado. The greens I could have done without because they were a bitter type bleck I did not like, but everything else was good together even the strange gelatinous mango puree (?) type thing at the bottom.
TD5 had a pork with kimchee and daikon dish which was plentiful and okay.
For dessert, I had a banana bread pudding. It was okay and thankfully TD5 did not have an allergic reaction to the walnuts that were in it. Of course, I let him taste it and as he was putting it in his mouth I wondered if he had allergies to nuts. It turns out he did. Heh. Oops on my part there but it all turned out okay anyway.
Here's TD5's Blood Orange Cake with things...?
Next, it was off to Liberty State Park in ugh, NJ for Adventure 2 on Day 1.
Currently listening to: "Same Old Thing" by The Streets.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
More Than Meets The Eye
Memorable Conversation (with picture to follow)
Or 2: I have to show you something, TD5. I forgot to ask Frass about this. The tour poster for Sasha Fierce is just the most...horrible thing, I've seen! Her makeup's weird and she has handles...
TD5: What is it?
Or 2: It's a bike dress or something.
TD5: Is she a transformer?
Or 2: Uhh...well...
TD5: No, what you're telling me is that she's a transformer!
::shows picture::
TD5: OMG!
So yeah, seriously Frass...what the eff.
Currently listening to: "Lacrimosa" by Kalafina, 2nd ED Theme to Kuroshitsuji.
Or 2: I have to show you something, TD5. I forgot to ask Frass about this. The tour poster for Sasha Fierce is just the most...horrible thing, I've seen! Her makeup's weird and she has handles...
TD5: What is it?
Or 2: It's a bike dress or something.
TD5: Is she a transformer?
Or 2: Uhh...well...
TD5: No, what you're telling me is that she's a transformer!
::shows picture::
TD5: OMG!
So yeah, seriously Frass...what the eff.
Currently listening to: "Lacrimosa" by Kalafina, 2nd ED Theme to Kuroshitsuji.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Trinidad...
First, let us discuss our as per usual, frantic on the fly trip as a whole and all the shart we ate while there.
We got to Trinidad last week Thursday in the afternoon, and ! Boohead came with us! and managed to stuff Royal Castle in his mouth before I did..., then we proceeded to eat Aunty P.'s awesome times pelau then went out with CLee to stock up on stuff:
Dinner was the KFC we quickly ate before tuning in to the Burn Notice season premiere but really we tuned out because there were too many distractions around for us to pay attention. I feel as though TD5 somehow, distracted me on purpose even though he wasn't around.
We awoke on Friday and while H1 was at home secretly eating Hops and Cheese like an ass without me, I was out with TD5 getting doubles to feed her.
H1: 1
Or 2: 0
Before going into the details of Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning I would like to do a wrap up of Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday morning.
Sunday afternoon brought us family that once more invaded Aunty P.'s and Uncle P.'s house. Heh, we're very grateful for letting them converge like that.
It was a little bit strange seeing everyone. I've not seen many for a long time, not for about 13 or so years and it was a bit sad too as it was a reminder that we truly are getting older (I still don't feel it myself). Still, it was also a very good thing to see everyone. We miss them.
Monday turned out quite relaxed.
Aunty P. made salted fish with tomatoes etc. and boiled some sikia figs. Mmmm, it was the first time I had the figs like that (not quite ripe, not quite fully green) and I knew it'd be awesome but sometimes when you got that one fig that was sweeter than it should have been..oh yeah. That's what you call good times, my frenemies.
We also ate chicken puffs that morning, followed by TD5, Luuuuuuiiiiiissss and I going to see awesome B Movie times Drag Me To Hell.
I. Love. Sam Raimi.
The movie was everything a Sam Raimi movie of the horror movie genre should be - fun, ridiculous, gross, cheesey and with at least one dancing candarian demon. Bruce Campbell is forgiven for not being there due to the fact that he's off doing awesome Burn Notice related things but he was missed.
I also missed Ted Raimi's cameo but not for a lack of trying. It was off-screen! Clever, Sam R. Clever indeed.
Dinner was in two parts though I ate only a litle the first time - a little bit of buss up shot and curried goat with pigeon peas that Aunty P. made for us from the day before.
Oh, that's right? Did I forget to mention that the day before we ate like amazing times? Curried goat with pigeon peas, dahlpuri AND buss up shot, curried mango (yum!), stewed chicken and channa and alloo?
2nd Dinner was Royal Castle. I really missed that place. Their chicken is great and their crinkle cut fries are still hella' awesome. CLee, I might have to abandon the KFC but not the zingers.
A little near 1 AM, we boarded our flight to NY and was met with drama on the plane. Some asshole got to his seat and scoffed at the woman and baby sitting in the row by proclaiming that he did not want to sit near "no effin' baby" (I cleaned up the language because it's horrifying to repeat as is).
Security came and kicked him off the plane after the woman rightly made a stink (and came over to sit next to my empty seat) but then they stupidly let him back on the plane citing that 'two wrongs don't make a right". Their logic was that if the woman also used obscenities then she should be kicked off the plane.
Now. How idiotic was that? She did not curse him, she cursed at the general situation and so what? She was reacting to a horrible mess of a man!
So, they let the stupid back on the plane because it was only fair in their eyes that he should be allowed to fly too.
I'm often pissed off at Trinis stupidity.
But the same applies to racist, power tripping customs officials in the US.
When we got to the U.S., and got in line for the first customs official...I knew we were in for some shit. I watched the man get up, not acknowledge he had a line of people waiting for him (ie us), go to the bathroom and disappear for 10 minutes, saunter back to his post still without acknowleding us and when he finally called us over...he was a dick.
He insulted the intelligence of flight attendants and the respectability of their jobs (you know, as if he's the shit at the airport that has the most important damned job there) and then with an assholish attitude asked Luuuiiissss if he'd ever been in the back before ie the Interrogation room because that's where he sent Luuuuiiiisssss.
It still boils my blood thinking about it.
Anyway, as mentioned, there's a bit of a gap on the details between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning.
Friday afternoon we got on another plane for a 12-20 minute flight to the Sister Island.
Memorable Conversations:
H1 and TD5 are discussing work, and my favourite parrot Billy: ::steups::
TD5: Billy, stop steupsing.
Or 2: Ugh, do I really have to get up to go brush my teeth?
TD5: You are lazy.
Billy: ::extreme laughing::
Can you believe that parrot was laughing at me because I was called lazy?
Or 2: Did you hear what Billy does? He imitates the sound of fruit falling from the trees and hitting the ground... 'buddup'.
Mk: Umm..ookkkaaaay...
Or 2: Yeah because then the dogs go searching frantically for the 'fruit'.
Mk: ::extreme laughing::
Currently listening to: "The Pot" by Tool.
We got to Trinidad last week Thursday in the afternoon, and ! Boohead came with us! and managed to stuff Royal Castle in his mouth before I did..., then we proceeded to eat Aunty P.'s awesome times pelau then went out with CLee to stock up on stuff:
Dinner was the KFC we quickly ate before tuning in to the Burn Notice season premiere but really we tuned out because there were too many distractions around for us to pay attention. I feel as though TD5 somehow, distracted me on purpose even though he wasn't around.
We awoke on Friday and while H1 was at home secretly eating Hops and Cheese like an ass without me, I was out with TD5 getting doubles to feed her.
H1: 1
Or 2: 0
Before going into the details of Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning I would like to do a wrap up of Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday morning.
Sunday afternoon brought us family that once more invaded Aunty P.'s and Uncle P.'s house. Heh, we're very grateful for letting them converge like that.
It was a little bit strange seeing everyone. I've not seen many for a long time, not for about 13 or so years and it was a bit sad too as it was a reminder that we truly are getting older (I still don't feel it myself). Still, it was also a very good thing to see everyone. We miss them.
Monday turned out quite relaxed.
Aunty P. made salted fish with tomatoes etc. and boiled some sikia figs. Mmmm, it was the first time I had the figs like that (not quite ripe, not quite fully green) and I knew it'd be awesome but sometimes when you got that one fig that was sweeter than it should have been..oh yeah. That's what you call good times, my frenemies.
We also ate chicken puffs that morning, followed by TD5, Luuuuuuiiiiiissss and I going to see awesome B Movie times Drag Me To Hell.
I. Love. Sam Raimi.
The movie was everything a Sam Raimi movie of the horror movie genre should be - fun, ridiculous, gross, cheesey and with at least one dancing candarian demon. Bruce Campbell is forgiven for not being there due to the fact that he's off doing awesome Burn Notice related things but he was missed.
I also missed Ted Raimi's cameo but not for a lack of trying. It was off-screen! Clever, Sam R. Clever indeed.
Dinner was in two parts though I ate only a litle the first time - a little bit of buss up shot and curried goat with pigeon peas that Aunty P. made for us from the day before.
Oh, that's right? Did I forget to mention that the day before we ate like amazing times? Curried goat with pigeon peas, dahlpuri AND buss up shot, curried mango (yum!), stewed chicken and channa and alloo?
2nd Dinner was Royal Castle. I really missed that place. Their chicken is great and their crinkle cut fries are still hella' awesome. CLee, I might have to abandon the KFC but not the zingers.
A little near 1 AM, we boarded our flight to NY and was met with drama on the plane. Some asshole got to his seat and scoffed at the woman and baby sitting in the row by proclaiming that he did not want to sit near "no effin' baby" (I cleaned up the language because it's horrifying to repeat as is).
Security came and kicked him off the plane after the woman rightly made a stink (and came over to sit next to my empty seat) but then they stupidly let him back on the plane citing that 'two wrongs don't make a right". Their logic was that if the woman also used obscenities then she should be kicked off the plane.
Now. How idiotic was that? She did not curse him, she cursed at the general situation and so what? She was reacting to a horrible mess of a man!
So, they let the stupid back on the plane because it was only fair in their eyes that he should be allowed to fly too.
I'm often pissed off at Trinis stupidity.
But the same applies to racist, power tripping customs officials in the US.
When we got to the U.S., and got in line for the first customs official...I knew we were in for some shit. I watched the man get up, not acknowledge he had a line of people waiting for him (ie us), go to the bathroom and disappear for 10 minutes, saunter back to his post still without acknowleding us and when he finally called us over...he was a dick.
He insulted the intelligence of flight attendants and the respectability of their jobs (you know, as if he's the shit at the airport that has the most important damned job there) and then with an assholish attitude asked Luuuiiissss if he'd ever been in the back before ie the Interrogation room because that's where he sent Luuuuiiiisssss.
It still boils my blood thinking about it.
Anyway, as mentioned, there's a bit of a gap on the details between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning.
Friday afternoon we got on another plane for a 12-20 minute flight to the Sister Island.
Memorable Conversations:
H1 and TD5 are discussing work, and my favourite parrot Billy: ::steups::
TD5: Billy, stop steupsing.
Or 2: Ugh, do I really have to get up to go brush my teeth?
TD5: You are lazy.
Billy: ::extreme laughing::
Can you believe that parrot was laughing at me because I was called lazy?
Or 2: Did you hear what Billy does? He imitates the sound of fruit falling from the trees and hitting the ground... 'buddup'.
Mk: Umm..ookkkaaaay...
Or 2: Yeah because then the dogs go searching frantically for the 'fruit'.
Mk: ::extreme laughing::
Currently listening to: "The Pot" by Tool.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday, TD5!
Here you are once more, celebrating your birthday and Thanksgiving with the HOchieS as you should be. If we can, let the shart that went down last year never happen again. And thanks.
Happy Birthday, Bughie J.!
From The HOchieS and a bunch of Animal Balloons! Or are they some sort of Miscreant Barnums that you're not telling us aboot?!
=)
Currently listening to: Momma Hochie wishing you Happy Birthday and singing "O Holy Night". Heehee.
Here you are once more, celebrating your birthday and Thanksgiving with the HOchieS as you should be. If we can, let the shart that went down last year never happen again. And thanks.
Happy Birthday, Bughie J.!
From The HOchieS and a bunch of Animal Balloons! Or are they some sort of Miscreant Barnums that you're not telling us aboot?!
=)
Currently listening to: Momma Hochie wishing you Happy Birthday and singing "O Holy Night". Heehee.
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