2011 Concerts

Just some of the shows I was fortunate to see this year. Long live rock (and prog, and jazz, and fusion...)

Robert Plant & Band of Joy  - DAR 2-1

Stanley Jordan - P&G NY - 3-1

Oz Noy & Jerry Marotta - P&G NY 3-1

Rush - MSG 4-10

Rush - Baltimore 4-22

Jon Anderson - TLA 5-4

Eric Burdon - BBK NYC - 6-8

Robin Trower - Birchmere 6-22

Confronting Death, Onion Style

Passing Of Ohio Man Forces Nation To Confront Death For First Time


MARION, OH—Following the passing of 82-year-old Joseph Howerton Saturday, the American people were, for the very first time, forced to confront the reality that death is an inevitable part of life that one day awaits us all.

While sources confirmed that the nation's 311 million residents were aware of death as a basic concept, the demise of Ohio retiree Howerton reportedly marked the first instance in which death became fully real to the U.S. populace, and not simply an abstract idea removed from their own lives.

"When I heard that [Howerton] died, it suddenly occurred to me for the first time that, 'Oh, my God, everybody dies, and once they do, they don’t come back,'" said Philadelphia real estate agent Tom Marsh, 52, describing a reaction shared by every other person in the country within hours of the news that Howerton had passed away. "Sure, I'd heard about people dying and seen it in movies and books and stuff, but I never had to come to grips with it until now."

"We're all going to end up like Joseph Howerton," concurred Phoenix-area factory worker Tami Weiss, 31, shaking her head slowly in apparent shock. "My parents, my friends, everyone. Even me."

finish reading here

Faith Restored

I bought a phone off of Craigslist from a guy named Alex. His ad stated "brand new in box" so, not wanting to muck up the packaging, I didn't open the box til I got home. Turns out there was no packaging, and several of the accessories were missing. The phone was not new -- it was worn, damaged, and not working.

Buyer Beware is the motto for Craigslist users, and I knew I had no recourse other than to ask for a refund and hope that Alex had a shred of decency. I lucked out. He refunded my money, and in doing so, restored my fragile faith in humanity. At least for the time being. Thanks, Alex.

Yet, what does it say about our society when someone becomes a hero just for doing the right thing?

Town Without Pity

How can we keep love alive, How can anything survive, When these little minds tear you in two
No, it isn't very pretty what a town without pity can do

And dig this instrumental version from the late great Ronnie Montrose

Change We Wanted to Believe In

Candidate Obama promised "change we can believe in." A fresh start with the Arab and Muslim worlds based on mutual respect. A healthcare public option. The closing of Guantanamo Bay. The repeal of Bush tax cuts for the rich. Comprehensive immigration reform. It seems we were all duped. See more broken promises here:

politifact's obama-meter

President Obama and his Democratic colleagues have left many of us disappointed and disillusioned. It's no wonder the U.S. ranks #120 in voter turnout.

Pilgrimmage to the Beacon

Trip to NYC to see the Brothers at the Beacon.  A musical nirvana that should be attempted

 by every blues fan at least once in their lifetime.

If you can't get to the Beacon, then enjoy this video of the Brothers at the Fillmore in 1970.  Technical difficulties, horrible camera work, but southern rock at its best:

2010

It's a blur.  I know from these pics that I spent the better part of the year seeking out music therapy.

Jeff Beck - Wolftrap 6-7

Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton - MSG 2-18

Jon Anderson - TLA 4-13

Bela Fleck, Chick Corea, Zakir Hussain - Wolftrap 6-22

Jethro Tull and Procol Harum - Wolftrap 6-8

Peter Frampton - Wolftrap 6-23

Yes - Wolftrap 6-23

Steve Hackett - State Theater 6-24

Ringo Starr (& Paul!) Radio City 7-7

Renaissance - State 6-24

YOSO (Billy Sherwood, Bobby Kimball, Tony Kaye) - Ramshead  8-15

Moody Blues -Woodstock 7-10

Jon Anderson - Birchmere 9-1

Terry Reid - BBK NYC 9-22

Mystery concert - venue unknown 9-25

Govt Mule - Warner 12-28

Os Mutantes - 930 Club 11-11 

Allman Brothers - DAR 11-12

Overlooking the Obvious

Internet poster Hal Straus asks, "In response to the Christmas Day attempt by a passenger to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight...What steps do you think officials or passengers should take to improve airport security?"

The most obvious answer is to ask ourselves what we've done to inspire such hatred in the first place. In my view, it's because we are the biggest hypocrites on the planet.

We invaded Iraq allegedly because of its violation of a UN resolution. Yet we turn a blind eye to Israel's violation of some 66 UN resolutions. We "liberate" an oil-rich country from its evil dictator (causing the deaths of 150,000 of its people in the process), yet we embrace other evil dictators and ignore their human rights abuses (e.g., Saudi Arabia, China) when it suits us, all the while touting our values and morality to the rest of the world. We vehemently condemn Iran's budding nuclear program, while an unstable, terror-ridden country like Pakistan harbors bombs with our blessing.

But the most egregious of our hypocrisies is our unconditional support of Israel, even as its government commits illegal occupation, apartheid, war crimes and atrocities against the Palestinian people. Our financial backing of Israel's war machine -- used to inflict oppression, suffering and death on Palestinians -- fuels the agenda of terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and enables them to recruit followers, who perceive their enlistment as a moral obligation, delivering justice to the unjust.

All the clever, high-tech security measures in the world won't be enough to protect us, as long as we continue to ignore the root of the problem and bow to the demands of Israel and its AIPAC lobby at the expense of our national security.

America's biggest terrorist threat is the hatred it generates by uneven foreign policies and unconditional support of Israel.

Wake up, Washington.


Photo: Holocaust and Gaza

Radio Radio

I don't own a TV, and people often ask how I survive without one. I read, I surf, I chat, I nap, but mostly I listen to music. I'm fussy about my tunes, and ok - I'm stuck on '60s-'70s AOR, hold the hits and adverts, thank you.

Last Christmas, I subscribed to XM satellite radio. I pay for 200 channels but listen to only one: Deep Tracks Channel 40. Bands like Traffic, Genesis, the Moody Blues, Strawbs, and Ultimate Spinach, beamed down from thousands of miles in outerspace in all their original, full-length, obscure-album-cut glory. It's like modern-day pirate radio. You won't hear this stuff anywhere else.

My best friend these days is my XM portable satellite radio (pictured here). It's a first-gen Pioneer Airware which lets me listen at home or on the go. One of these days I'll buy a newer model. But for now, this one feeds my head just fine.

snow snow snow snow SNOW

Awesome snowstorm. Views out my window. The gargoyle looks like a snowman.

Birthday

December 17 is a birthday that often gets lost amid the holiday chaos. If it's remembered at all, it's usually in the form of a combo b'day-xmas card or gift. One exception is the annual bouquet of flowers I get from Scott, a friend I've known since 1981. Even though we live on opposite coasts with separate lives and rarely keep in touch, his bouquet arrives each year on my birthday like clockwork. Sometimes it's a challenge for him to locate me, as I often escape or go underground during the holidays. But he always manages to get the flowers to me eventually.

For reasons known only to him, it's important -- for 28 years and counting -- that my birthday not pass unacknowledged, that I know there is at least one person who cares and remembers. For this I am amazed and grateful, more so as the years pass. There have been dark times when his bouquet was the only remembrance from the outside world.

Today I give thanks for Scott, the flowers and mylar balloon, and the ray of light they beam through my overcast sky.

It Was 29 Years Ago Today...

...and you are still missed.

Prince of Petworth

I want to give a plug to a great community blog, Prince of Petworth. It covers the DC neighborhoods of Petworth, Columbia Heights, U Street, and Mt. Pleasant and many others. You'll find news, happenings, real estate and development posts, restaurant reviews, and awesome photos. PoP was created by Dan Silverman in 2006, and this year Washingtonian Magazine deemed it “the King of Neighborhood Blogs.” Check it out:

http://www.princeofpetworth.com

Paisley

                      Some researchers believe that babies form certain likes and dislikes while still in the womb.
 I believe them. There are many things I already loved when I popped out. Paisley is one of them.