A Decade of Fun & Adventure

As I started this decade; I will end it in similar fashion; seeing Phish for New Year's Eve. Though this time instead of being sorrounded by patchouli and BO in a field on an Indian reservation it will be in Madison Square Garden.

When this decade started I was a young whipper snapper with wide eyes heading off on adventures pursuing a life of youthful exuberance. Now much the same just three decades into life and enjoying the ride.

A friend of mine asked me the other day what would I tell my former younger self.  I really had to think about this. My whole life has been quite fun and interesting, and I think I've learned a lot. Though maybe this is self-sexest talk, but I don't feel my basic make-up changed since about 16. Music, hockey, the ladies, food, drink, basically good times with good people (not necessarily in that order). Just more responsibility and "big boy" pants. But let's focus on just this past decade.

I've spent more money on concerts (the list is long but distinguished) and sporting events (mainly hockey and college football) than I would care to admit.  But the experience and the good times far out-weigh the cost of going to a festival like Rothbury or seeing the John Butler Trio in a small venue.

I ride a motorcycle and have traveled out of state on it. Next year my father and I are planning a trip; just the two of us guys.

I've loved and lost; and have opened myself up again.  Truly I've gone through this and I am hopefully better person for it.

I really try and be the best me possible; sometimes the best me is a cocky SOB < ::leads to friends throwing dumbells down in your living room and storming out::  Yet, I can control only my actions and so my reputation is quite a positive one when I do check in on it. 

As far as shit my dad actually says "that'll build character" and "be excellent" (yes he liked Bill and Ted like the rest of us).Though at one time I did have in my posession 3 copies of "Bio Dome" (that's for another time).

I'm a pretty lucky and blessed guy (with a hint of boyish charm). So what would I tell me you ask? After much talk with my friend and mulling over the bad, good, and great that I've experienced (because let's face it life can be pretty tough and yet still so fulfilling), this is what I would say:

"Keep doing what you love, keep finding passion in whatever you do. You're going to be just fine. Maybe bumped, bruised, and scraped, but you're going to enjoy yourself."

So now I ask any and all who happen upon this post: "What would you tell your former self of a decade ago?"

Lightning home-opener = Awesomeness

Let me be clear that you may know me as, and yes I am a Devils fan. However, if a guy can have a second choice mine is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Particularly because my parents moved us to FL from NY when I was just a boy. My father took my whole family to an inaugural season game. So there will always be a special place in my heart for the Bolts.

If you don't know the story, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004. What an accomplishment for a team below the Mason-Dixon line. And then the next year the lock-out happened. The energy was sucked right out of the city by the bay.

So this year's motto "Bring It Back!" & "All In!" Obviously meaning the Stanley Cup not another screw up CBA debacle. They must be "All In" this year. There's no way to explain how you had a 50 + goal scorer in Stamkos who tied Sidney Crosby last year for most in the NHL and not make the playoffs.

Tampa Bay is buzzing this year for hockey and the addition of Stevie Y helped. Simon Gagne has been added to the roster this year which helps solidify the Bolts' veteran core.

I was there on opening night against the Chicago Blackhawks  Atlanta Thrashers. It was just electric walking up and into the St. Pete Times Forum. The whole area around the stadium was just oozing with excitement for a hockey game (yes, in FL).

As I got to my seat, I was able to watch the end of the warm-up skate. I thought to myself, boys let's take it off the paper and make it reality on the ice. Marty St. Louis, Vinny, and Stamkos are the core. Now there's a new GM in town with Yzerman. In all honesty this team is quite capable of reclaiming Lord Stanley's Cup, maybe not this season, but very soon.

The lights went down:

 

 

 

Tampa took the game 5-3. Now they did blow a 4-0 lead in the 2nd & that is in part because of who Atlanta acquired in the off season, namely ex-Cup winning Blackhawks. However, the core that must lead the Bolts all had great games. Especially Stamkos who got 2 goals opening night. This is an example of what the Lightning need every game. This is what Tampa and the state of FL need to keep hockey on the minds of all of us who live here. Hey, I got my 10 game weekend tickets (2 tix to 10 games), at a bargain price and it's probably the best entertainment purchase I've made for myself. Nothing beats hockey live.

Phish with a side of Phun

I haven't seen Phish live since New Year's Eve 2003. I attended three of the four shows (29, 30, & 31). So it's been a while. My best friend and my sister where at those shows with me. Side note: my first show was Big Cypress! 10th anniversary this year!

Needless to say, when my sister called the other evening with absolute excitedawesomeness in her voice that she had gotten the lotto for Phish's NYE at Madison Square Garden this year; I promptly checked my email. There it was confirmation that I also won so we got our tickets to the 30th & 31st this year!!!!!!

So not only will I be seeing one of my favorite bands for my 8th & 9th Phish show, I will be seeing them on the 10yr anniversary of my first Phish experience! The really cool part is again my sister and best friend will be joining me; and I will have a very special awesome friend with me that has never experienced a Phish NYE! The candor, the excitement, and basic carnival atmosphere!

CHEESECAKE!!!!!

Without further adu here's the setlist & Grooveshark widget (songs are not the actual performance but you'll get the idea! Also for the 2nd set I didn't make it Chalkdust > Slave > Chalkdust, so Slave to the traffic light ends the set) from the last show I was at December 31, 2003:

 

Sister's Birthday weekend & Xavier Rudd

The last time Xavier Rudd was in the Central Florida area I was blessed to see him at a small club called the Social. Actually, my sister was with me at that show as well.

Congrats Xavier, for moving on up into the House of Blues venue category!

People ask, cause I've been known to be a music snob sometimes (see High Fidelity), so are you kinda miffed that this guy and his band you really love are playing in a bigger place which in turn means more people and closer into mainstream music?

My answer:

No. First, I love the fact that more people are tuning into other music than what is just on the radio. Second, I have this grand plan that everyone will absolutely love the music that I listen to and to me it's the more the merrier. Third it's the natural progression of an artist who becomes popular (how many bars/clubs would Dave Matthews have to play on a tour to accommadate his fans, answer-he'd never be able to take a break).

Besides, I still get to have the nostalgia and say, "well I saw Xavier when he was still playing tightly packed hole-in-the-wall places..."

So my sister and I head out to House of Blues Orlando to kick off her birthday weekend celebration with some awesome live music.

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]Now, it was not a "packed" house and the balcony area was not opened. Having said that, this crowd did fill up the main floor pretty well. And it was an extremely kind crowd.

We talked to people around us, they talked back and when the music was going we were quiet and spellbound.Except when we were yelling for "Land Rights" with Tom, Wade & their gang (we were basically right in front of the soundboard), and only yelled during respectable pauses between songs.

The first thing I noticed was how mature Xavier has become musically. Improvisation was much more prevalent at this show than when I'd previously seen him. Anytime a guy is playing a guitar with all of his soul and a didgeridoo, well it just blows your mind! He was having so much fun and we (the rabble) fed off of it.

Finally, it was time for the encore. Xavier comes out by himself and starts in on "Land Rights" which meant that my sis on her birthday weekend got to hear/see the first time performance in the U.S.! Then they did 3 more tunes ending with "Let Me Be." Even got my sister a setlist from a very cool crew member after the show (Gosh I'm a good big brother, ::pats self on back::).

Here's a listen of my favorites from Xavier:

 

Let me know if you like.

~bbryon

Hockey is almost back!

Let me start by saying what amazing hockey we (as the world) got to witness last year! It's wonderful to see hockey on center stage since in Canadian terms I come from south of the border and we Americans tend to not always pay attention to the game. Maybe we're turning it around friends to the north. I hope we do.

We witnessed the U.S. beating CAN only to watch Sid score the gold medal winning goal one week later.(The video of the goal is actually from a fan in the arena)

Then we saw the city of Chicago bring home the Stanley Cup, something 49 years in the making.

I've been jones-ing for hockey basically since the day after the Blackhawks won. At least The Production Line keeps it going pretty much through the summer, though I'm not a Redwings fan. Hockey Night in Canada with my boy Jeff Marek takes a summer hiatus. The only real taste was catching some of th draft when I was in NJ and hanging out with my friend from college.

So my need of something cool, crisp, and refreshing...yes hockey, was quite hard to quench this summer especially living in Central Florida.

Then: I met someone through Twitter who started a phenomenal cause: The Flammable Stanley Cup for Cancer Survivors

As I write this she is on her way to Burning Man. She is an awe inspiring individual who I'm quite happy to have met. She will then put the Flammable Stanley Cup into the fire when they "Burn the Man."

My only connection was letting her pick my brain about social media. But it was great watching her go through the motions of doing this crazy cool project. I feel like not only was that hockey need fulfilled but I also got to connect with a total stranger through social media and a friendship has been planted. A side bar here, Marissa is a Blackhawks fan, so it was fun talking to someone so excited about Chicago winning and who she likes and going to games.

October is so close and we will again be blessed with: The Sport of the Gods - Michelle Kenneth

~bbryon

All Covers

I've always enjoyed it when a band, especially a good one, pulls out a cover. Maybe it's because most of my musical ear is bent toward the rock and roll/jam band sound. These musicians tend to play a fair amount of covers over the span of say a summer tour.

So this post is a long comment to a blog Allison wrote, "RadioPotato Goes Under the Covers." I will say reading RadioPotato and having shared some music back and forth; she has gotten me to step out of my familiar musical doldrums (yes, I had to look that up).

I won't do least favorite covers because I've no desire to create a shitty music widget.

Some of the tunes are live cuts. That is what's near and dear to my heart; musicians connecting in the moment. As per Allison I won't list the original artist. I think if you don't know it helps you take an insightful musical journey finding the answer.

"Baba O'Reilly" - Pearl Jam, "It Makes No Difference" - My Morning Jacket, "Paint it Black" - Vanessa Carlton, "Waste" - Dave Matthews, "Big River" - Grateful Dead, "Don't Bring Me Down" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - Peter Frampton, "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down" - Black Crowes, "What'd I Say" - John Scofield, "Bad Company" - Tori Amos, "White Rabbit" - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - Rusted Root, "Carry On" - Alana Davis, "Fields of Gold" - Eva Cassidy, "Imagine" Blues Traveler, "Across the Universe" - John Butler Trio, "Boogie on Reggae Woman" - Phish, "30 Days in the Hole" - Gov't Mule, "Burning Down the House" - Bonnie Raitt, "Fortunate Son" - Donavon Frankenreiter, "Bring it on Home" - Led Zeppelin

*Eva Cassidy will always be on a phenomenal covers list, it had to be in mine Allison.

I do enjoy a good case of familiar especially with a sweet jam washdown. Let me know what you think and what you would add.

~bbryon

I miss you Jerry :'(

Jerry Garcia August 1, 1942 - August 9, 1995

I believe many people remember, not just Deadheads. - That's how I started my comment on: "Jerry Garcia's long, strange trip rolls on 15 years after his death, Grateful Dead leader's influence ingrained in culture."

I started trading tapes of Grateful Dead shows in 1995. Yes, that's cassette tapes, usually from master DATs.

My best friend from a little coffee house in Stuart, FL known as the Java Joint gave me my first show: 5/5/77 New Haven, CT. My favorite tune from the show is Estimated Prophet. We'd ride around down-town Stuart in his car when he was on break and I just remember how magical it sounded to me. I had listened to "Skeletons in the Closet" before and a few other best-of albums, but this wasn't an album. This was listening to history (a live concert recording).

My father who grew up during the counter-culture 60's - 70's didn't care for the Grateful Dead. He loved Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin. (He just never go into the Dead). He became an over-the-road truck driver in the early 2000's. By this time I had digitized my entire tape collection either to CDs or on a hard drive. Now he's a huge fan. That's an example of generational love for the Grateful Dead in reverse.

Some people get it, some don't. Even though I cut the long hair; when I go to any type of jam band concert now, I still get the "knowing" nod from "Deadheads" who are strangers. I think we can just sense each other.

It's unvelievable to me now that it has already been 15 years since Jerry passed.

I believe Chuck Palahniuk said it best, "We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will."

So with a tear in my eye, I stand up and applaud you Jerry. Wherever you are, you helped create something so very special and the songs are still filling the air.

For myself and many, many others, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul.

~bbryon

 

 

My younger days of music

This is a follow-up to one of my earliest posts "My listening when I was younger," which received a great response from some seriously awesome folks: @Ironshef and @dopeburger. These guys also added some gems I missed. Not because I didn't listen to some of the bands they mentioned, but sadly I had just forgotten some of them.

Yes, most of what I listen to now somehow or usually revolves around the "jam band" type genre.

Growing up and during adolescence most of us who love music believe, and I know for me it's true, that moments and life experiences are associated with the music we listen to.

Like breaking up with your 7th grad girlfriend (you know, the one you basically held hands with around school and maybe went to the movies with). I remember getting home and listening/seeing "November Rain" on MTV.

Or, standing right by the speakers at dances (middle & high school) head banging to "Cryin'."

So continuing the trip down musical memory lane (1990-200) and of course sharing it with all of you, here's what's in store ( a side note - this list definitely goes past 11):

1. Pearl Jam: Who didn't/doesn't love this band and their epic album "Ten"?

2. Blues Traveler: Remember not the Hooty video, but "Runaround" off of "Four."

3. Smashing Pumpkins: Before "Melancholy & the Infinite Sadness" there was "Siamese Dream."

4. Guns N' Roses: Of course Slash's epic guitar playing on "November Rain" is a solo to remember.

5. Nirvana: I think this anthem helped sell more plaid shirts than any other song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

6. The Black Crowes: I don't believe there's a better cover of this song by another band, "Hard to Handle."

7. Ben Harper: Did anyone else see him on the H.O.R.D.E. tour? In case you forgot "Fight for Your Mind" came out in 1995, his last solo album before adding the Innocent Criminals.

8. Blind Melon: Nobody can forget the bee girl, yet "Change" was so soulful and haunting, especially in lieu of Shannon Hoon's death.

9. Aerosmith: "Get A Grip" was an awesome comeback on the scene album and Alicia Silverstone with that navel piercing made us guys "Cryin'" with joy.

10. Soundgarden: Chris Cornell has one of the best rock voices of all time and it was out there on "Black Hole Sun."

11. Primus: Gotta love Les Claypool and I was lucky enough to see "My Name is Mud" performed live.

12. Tribe Called Quest: when it came to hip hop/rap, these guys were on.

13. Digable Planets: "Rebirth of Slick was my favorite bass line to play for warm-up in jazz band.

14. Sublime: "40 Oz. to Freedom" has six covers and their self-titled "Sublime" was their only album to produce a top hit.

15. Green Day: Hell, now they even have their own Broadway show.

16. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Probably "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" was one of the first explicit lyric albums I had to hide from my parents.

17. Live: "Throwing Copper" was even produced by Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads.

18. R.E.M.: I think everyone knew the lyrics to "Losing My Religion."

19. Counting Crows: They were/are just so much fun and of course everyone loved Adam's stage presence.

20. U2: "Achtung Baby" was the first CD I ever owned.