Doug C

6 hours ago, chuckrh said:

I've been thinking about moving over to that side of the sound, maybe Poulsbo zone. I can't do it right now as it's really looking like I've got some major surgery coming by the end of the year or early next year. I live a few blocks from the Fauntleroy ferry dock in West Seattle. I've probably driven through Manchester a few times. Seattle is just becoming too expensive & of course the traffic is horrendous. The middle class is getting priced out. Having the West Seattle bridge back has made my life a little easier. When it was out it took me 1.5 hours to get to Pill Hill more than once. Ugly! I'm not getting out much right now but if I can get something like right we should hook up sometime.

I sent you a PM. I don’t want to take up this popular thread with a personal conversation. 

Brilliant, indeed. His humor and grace will be missed.

 Manchester is an unincorporated community in Kitsap County. My mailing address is Port Orchard. From the spectacular Port of Manchester  you can see Seattle, and when it’s clear, Mt. Rainier. Close to the Bremerton ferry and Southworth ferry, so Seattle is easy. If you’re ever in the area, look me up. I’ll buy you a beer at the Manchester Pub.

Chuck, your point is well taken. If I came off as confrontational, I apologize. That was not my intent. I agree that Patty Murray is very invested in re-election, but I also believe that she does care about her constituents and promoting liberal values. Would I rather have a less, as you put it, entrenched senior senator? Yes. My point is that in our system, certainly for national and state-wide elections, you only get 2 actual choices. Any candidate that is not a Republican or a Democrat has no chance of victory. Therefore, unless they are a proven criminal, mentally unstable, etc., I am always voting for the Democrat. No lesser of two evils feeling or “nose holding” has ever occurred. Which of the two candidates that have a chance of winning best represents my values? It’s always the Democrat. It’s as simple as that. I’d rather have a parliamentary system with a short election period, only public money used for campaigning and ranked choice voting, but I live in the USA. 

This is off topic, put I’ve never understood the term “career politician” or the need for term limits. In a democratic system, if you want to run again and your constituents elect you, that’s democracy in action. Should money be taken out of elections, as our democratic peers have done, making it easier for challengers and harder for incumbents?, no question. As long as an elected official votes the way I want them to, supports the causes I do and is capable of doing the job, I don’t give a damn how long they stay in office. I personally would not want to keep working any job into my 70s and beyond, but that’s me. 
 

As for Patty Murray, she still does the business for the agenda I support. I don’t see a problem with her. Would I rather have a younger, like-minded senator? Maybe, but not necessarily. Also, Tiffany Smiley is running as an average Washington mom, an outsider, just like Patty Murray did 30 years ago. I’d bet my entire wealth that if she is elected (a frightening proposition) she would happily run again and again. 
 

As for the topic, my efforts are behind any Democrat. I’m not a member of any political party, but in our current system, no other party I can support has a realistic opportunity to rule. It’s even more critical because the Republican Party, not all Republicans, is a party of nutters.

Watching the coverage for the first time as a Washingtonian instead of a Floridian, is definitely a different experience. It’s odd to still receive texts from the Tampa and Hillsborough emergency management regarding evacuation updates and such. Again, a projected hit for Tampa, my old hometown, shifts. Happy for family and friends still living there, but terrible destruction for so many a couple hours to the south. Very sad. 
 

I saw an interview with the Sarasota (a city to the north of Ft. Myers, out of the worst of it) Emergency Chief on CBS Mornings. He said, “We were blessed”, then talked about “destruction to the south”. I so wished Gayle King had replied, “So you are implying that the destroyed areas to the south of Sarasota were forsaken by God?” But I’m sure she agrees.

Then it got worse! Tony (another member of the studio team) was talking to the Charlotte County emergency chief and said “It’s only by the grace of God” how some areas weren’t hit. My head exploded. This is a professional journalist telling tragedy stricken people God showed them no mercy. 
 

I’ve been an atheist for over 45 years, but if I wasn’t, I know I wouldn’t say ridiculous insulting things.

Agree re Fontaines D.C. Would like to see them. Arlo Parks is one I forgot from earlier. She is top drawer. 

Before I read your post, I was going to say Plains, Donna! I love Waxahatchee, so I was excited to hear Plains on SiriusXMU. They did not disappoint. Both songs are in my head also. We are very excited to see them in Seattle on Oct. 21. 
 

I’d also say Horsegirl, really loving them. They’re not so new anymore and now they’re “The Cool Thing”, but I love Wet Leg. The moment I heard “Chaise Longue” over a year ago, I was a fan. I haven’t heard a bad song yet. I unfortunately had to sell our tickets for an August club date in Vancouver.

Agree with uncool2pillow above. There are so many incredible female musicians in the last 5 years. Without taking time to think, I could name 10 in addition to the above.

Well done. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful act of kindness. I’m beaming as much as you and Mr. Murphy. Agree that it says lots about him that his favorite album is A Ghost is Born. 

Attended the Olalla Music Festival yesterday in the village of Olalla, WA. A cool local event (it was at the little league field, lots of local character and characters) with a varied range of music, all touring acts, but lower level and most were from WA. Anyway, The Oly Mountain Boys, a fine bluegrass band playing mostly originals, surprised my pal and me by busting out an excellent “Forget the Flowers”.

Agree. Getting to Iceland isn’t expensive, but staying there can be. My wife and I have been there twice, the most recent being last summer. Both times we rented a camper van and stayed 2 weeks, circumnavigating the island. That makes it affordable. Get a camping card, cook your own meals, buy alcohol at duty free before leaving the airport, etc. Beauty everywhere. I highly recommend Iceland as a travel destination. There are campgrounds outside of Reykjavik and you could drive the camper van into the city. We went in June, but April would work. With the bonus of 3 Wilco shows! That’s lava flowing behind us from last summer’s volcanic eruption.

The ashtray says’ ranking is spot on. Anyone disagreeing with Beltmann’s intelligent, though simply logical, assessment of Cruel Country, is either a troll or an idiot.

I wonder if Hixter’s views on guns have changed any? Sadly, I doubt it. I am also genuinely interested in hearing his thoughts on January 6. Lastly, does he still view Trump in the same way as June 3, 2016 (the last time he posted on VC)? Since he hasn’t visited since June 6, 2016, I’d wager I won’t get a response.

I apologize if this isn’t the appropriate thread to ask the last two questions.

I retired June, 1 after 36 years years as a public high school teacher. I am glad that I no longer have to worry about a shooting occurring while teaching at my school. I still have to worry about a shooting occurring while doing anything else, though.

As always, your photos are amazing. They are all top drawer. Thank you.

Seeing a marten dart across the road in front of us while driving back to Jacksonville, VT on an isolated stretch of highway, was a highlight. I was excited to see Sylvan Esso, but damn, I was not expecting to enjoy it that much. What a set. We’ve seen Neko Case several times, but when she covered Connie Smith, that had to be the clearest, most powerful, commanding Neko we’ve ever heard. Wow! I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had never again heard ‘’What Light’’ live. The extreme joy we experienced while it played, with beautiful, tearful thoughts and memories of our youngest daughter, who died in 2018, was the highest of highlights.

I agree. I enjoy Jeff's solo albums. I truly enjoyed the Tweedy and friends set, but I wanted more Wilco. Especially after a set of Cruel Country, an album I listened to several times before the show and love. Even more especially after hearing 7 repeats from the first set in the second set. Those Cruel Country repeats are good songs and fit seamlessly into the set. If it was a regular Wilco show, no complaints. But every time they played a Cruel Country song in the second set, my thought was " could've heard a new (to Solid Sound 2022) Wilco song". When the count reached 7, I held that in reserve. After the show I'm thinking of the 7 songs I could have heard.

I understand the band wanting to play those songs, but that's what the upcoming tour is for. Solid Sound is different., Wilco overload, if you will. I didn't feel overloaded on Wilco. Not that I ever could.

If not have Tweedy play an earlier in the day set like other side projects, as sonnyfeeling proposed, then at least close the second night and let Wilco close the third.

My wife and I enjoyed ourselves. Excellent music is why we came, but 3 Wilco sets, with no repeats, and Tweedy and friends in the afternoon, would have been true bliss.

This band is amazing to their fans, no question, but these are fair points. At least it wasn't as ill-conceived as a fan karaoke set. I wasn't there then, but can't imagine not being pissed off about it.

I’ve been waiting 2 hours for the Tweedy and Friends review on After the Show, but decided to say it myself. Since I’m not bbop, I’ll say it here. David Byrne sang California Stars to close the festival. My wife and I were center stage, 2 people back. About 4 or 5 songs in, I saw a grey haired person in the wings stage left. Intrigued at who it was, I stared. I immediately said to my wife, I just saw David Fucking Byrne off stage! He went back out of sight. Much later he appeared again and people in the crowd started mumbling to each other and taking pictures. When he was introducing him, Jeff said something like ‘’This is one of the biggest thrills of my life’’. What a way to end it. Stage filled with the Tweedy band, Wilco, kids, 2 members of Eleventh Dream Day, and David Byrne at the center of it all.

Excellent endorsement and excellent response.

Thank you for sharing.

I haven’t posted in over a year and a half, but I have a Wilco Holiday Spirit anecdote to foist, I mean share. We have always wanted to go to Solid Sound, but, being teachers, June is when we go on our yearly travels. As much as we love Wilco, we can’t afford 2 major trips. Our oldest daughter has some serious health issues and our son-in-law has been working/living several hours away all year, only coming home about one weekend a month. We have been getting her to appointments, staying with her in hospital, staying with the grandkids, etc. Things family does. During Christmas Eve festivities, our son-in-law handed us a gift bag, and said ‘’Thank you for taking care of my family while I haven’t been able’’. What is inside? 3 day Solid Sound passes, airline tickets to Albany, and an Airbnb in Whitingham. We were overwhelmed. 
 

A special end to a special, but challenging (see above) year. My wife and I are retiring (36 years for me, 30 for her), we are moving to WA in June, our oldest granddaughter and her husband made us great grandparents on October 6th, and it ends with Solid Sound! Plus, our last day of work was May 27th, but now, thanks to the thoughtful gift, it’s the 25! Whoot! 

Announce the lineup already!

The winner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0G63uzhFP4

Rick Moranis - I Ain't Goin' Nowhere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OeCacs5oqM

Sarah,

I cannot fully understand your situation or imagine it. I have no idea what to say that would matter. Take a breath, hold your husband, assess, and listen to the music you love as often as you are able.

During work happy hour today, the word came that the state of Florida closed schools for 2 weeks. Spring break starts Monday in our district. A week off with pay is something I, my wife and our teacher friends are all behind, though to be honest, we’d rather be teaching so our students won’t be disadvantaged. My district has said we are supposedly teaching online. That will cover the state law regarding required instructional hours and will keep downtown from being pissed that they’re paying us for sitting on our asses. “Develop creative, supplemental plans to entice your students to continue learning even though school is closed”    What a shit show it will be, but I understand you have to say nonsense that will appease the masses.

True, but not many fans are buying albums these days.  I don't begrudge artists trying to make a living on concert ticket and merch sales (or any other way)

I agree, but when 2 tickets with a total face value of $55 cost $112.50 after fees, something is wrong. If the artists are getting that exorbitant fee, that’s not a way to make a living that I support. I assume Live Nation receives that money, which I’d at least understand. Tickets prices, like all products, increase over time, but fucking hell, when the fees are MORE than the ticket, that’s some bullshit. I’d prefer a higher ticket price and lower fees. 

When $112.50 came up as the total for 2 $27.50 tickets, I assumed that I clicked on 3 tickets instead of 2. When I realized it was accurate, I was, shall we say, displeased.

Roadhouse,

Sturgill did leave it all out there. I don't know if the suit survived the sweat.

I agree that the advance qualification system Sturgill used was a better way to buy tickets.

I too was glad I said something, but relieved that it didn't escalate. I'd have been a Neil Young song.