Speedweeks...they're here!

Since November there's been something missing. The sound of V8 engines alive on Sunday (or Saturday night). Many changes have occurred over the NASCAR offseason. For three months all I've had has been "The Morning Drive" on Sirius radio, of which Pete Pistone is a co-host.

Some of the changes include the drivers' having to pick which division they will drive for championship points in. This means they must declare whether they will be racing for points at the Sprint Cup level, Nationwide level, or Camping World Truck level. The point system at the Sprint Cup level has gone from a confusing system to a less confusing one. In which 1st place gets 43pts, 2nd 42 pts, etc... I will not try and tell you about bonus points here.

Another change specifically for the Daytona 500 this year is the fact that the track has been re-paved. I work in Daytona Beach and I've seen since mid July the track go through the overhaul of re-paving. Sometimes during lunch I would drive by the backstretch to see the equipment that is used for such a massive project. It's also been pretty impressive to walk outside my office and the the cars testing on the new asphalt since the completion of the re-pave.

Last year's 500 was simply breathtaking; at least the big finish helped everyone get past the pothole issue.

This year the Daytona 500 will be momentous, not only because the track has just been re-paved (which should make for great racing), but also because it marks the 10 year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death at this race in 2001.

Rebecca Gladden has written "Three Drivers Could Deliver Momentous Daytona 500 win." Though I'm sure the other 40 will have something to say about it. The Preseason top 30 from SceneDaily.com is here. One of the writers Kenny Bruce is a must follow.

All of this being said; it was said best by a caller that was on The Morning Drive this past Monday. "I don't give a care about the rule changes, the speculation, the point system, or the changes to the cars. At this point I only care about going racing!" < My sentiment exactly!

Because no matter that I am personally a part of Jr. Nation, I love racing. I love the thrill of being at the tracks when I can be. I love that it is a community, not so much different than "Deadheads" or motorcyclists (of which I'm also a part of). I love the smell and the sound. I love listening to the drivers' channels at home on satellite radio during each race.

What do you love about NASCAR? What do you hate or despise? Maybe you don't like that I support a sport that you consider (insert negative vibe here)? Got a prediction of whether Jimmie Johnson will continue as champion or your pick as to who will dethrone him?

~bbryon

 

 

Adventures on Dec. 30 & 31

I set out for CT & NY for my holiday vacation. My parents along with my sister & I all meet to be with our family that resides in those two states. This year my sister, and two other friends would also be venturing on a phishing trip.

We got tickets for Phish at Madison Square Garden for two of the three night run; December 30 & 31. Now we did end up with extras because of the Phish lottery system. My sister & I are inherently lucky so we had 4 extras to each night. The benefactors of our luck were: @dopeburger, @TylerCurtis & @ohkeepahblog.

Unfortunately, I never got to meet up with Justin (@ohkeepahblog), but he assured me he had a phenomenal show. We did meet up with Pete & Tyler before the first show on the 30th; so it was cool to have a Phish tweet-up!

My sis & I had never been to MSG so it was amazing to see how intimate the show can be for 20k people.

See the full gallery on posterous

Let me just say the energy on the 30th made it the best Phish show I've seen (single event, because let's be honest Big Cypress was unforgettable)! MSG was just pulsing; the start of the New Years run, NYC, phans, it all = AWESOMENESS! So after the first set on the first night, we were all just trying to catch our breath. That's when my friend Caleb says, "Your mind has just been blown. While you recover please enjoy set two."

Here's 40 seconds of Golgi Apparatus to show you what I'm talking about:

Click here to download:

MOV00065.3gp (396 KB)

I had a great 2010! I ended it & started 2011 with all the pomp & circumstance anyone could ask for! I've grown, found new meaning in things/life/friends, & have generally just had a blast. Without a doubt Tweezer Reprise will always be my favorite encore!

We just completely enjoyed ourselves into 2011!

Click here to download:

MOV00081.3gp (241 KB)

How about you? Were you there? If not how was your NYE celebration?

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