thejokeexplained

I wonder if Snowden had gotten wind, and somehow had a advance copy of "Star Wars."  Would he have Leaked it to the interweb or here at via chicago at the very least? I have always thought better of those that could keep a secret. 

Anyway i hope Snowdens betrayal didn't cause concert venues to be subject to terror. That would suck! 

The video I saw showed that when the police peeked around the corner of the building they were sprayed with automatic fire. It looked like the police were armed with pistols and shot guns, not a favorable match up. I would bet that they were occupying the shooters attention till properly equipped help arrived. 

If they were shooting at police they weren't shooting at the public. I'm sure any police presence was helpful. The thing that is most upsetting to me is the fact that most of these venues that the bands we love; like wilco play,  do not have a lot of exits and everyone is crammed in together. That makes for easy targets with little to no threat to the gunman. I'm not sure why more didn't perished at the Bataclan. It could have been much worse all things considered. I'm sure when the authorities arrived some of the gunmen left the venue to hold them off.

 My husband and I went to "Spectre" this weekend 

One of the best Bond films i have seen in some time! I know 007 could kick the shit out of some terrorist. Bond's been doing it since i was a kid! 

When I heard that the siege at Le Bataclan had lasted hours, I knew that cops were using the wrong tactics. Islamist terrorists wearing suicide vests can't be negotiated with, as all they want to do is kill as many people as possible before achieving martyrdom. The longer police wait to attack, the more civilian lives will be lost.

 

I just read this; it looks like the UK came to  the same conclusion that I did.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3320764/Corbyn-not-happy-special-forces-given-orders-shoot-kill-terrorists-Britain-s-streets.html

I don't think there is any tactics that will shut this down or even help. If the new policy for these murders is to drive up to what ever place they choose armed to the teeth, what can be done to stop it? Even armed security is no match for the surprise of this type. I'm not sure anything can be done to stop it, nor do i think worrying about it while living your life is important. 

I'm sure there were more people killed in traffic fatalities world wide last friday then this attack. I'm not gonna stop driving but i will always be aware of the dangers when i get behind the wheel. 

It's sad we have to live in a world that the advent of the internet and 24 hour news outlets can install so much fear when and where they choose. Terror has always been involved in the human race,  but when it's shoved down our throats it makes those doing the terror that much more powerful. 

There's a "Paris" thread that's talking about this same theme. What's sad is that, at a time when the people of Paris could use something like live music to take their minds off the tragedy for just a few hours, bands are cancelling their shows over there left and right. 

Sorry to take up space, i just figured a more detailed subject line was due for this topic in case others had the same concern. 

So I'm watching the coverage on one of the news channels and someone in paris security was being interviewed, and his take on the attacks was it was a test for future attacks in the West. With the Bataclan having the most casualties it's reasonable to assume that this might be repeated at more small to mid sized venues throughout europe and the US?

Not that it will ever keep me from going to gigs but this attack really hit home for me. I have seen the band EODM perform in a similar sized venue as the Bataclan. I could relate to this audience in that regard. There is no way to stop a attack like this no matter ISIS or some nut job here in the USA. If terror shows up with explosive vests and automatic weapons i guess that's just shitty luck. 

This can't be the beginning of the end to Rockin' in the Free World.

 

True. But every broadcaster has moments like that. Jim Nantz does this all the time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

 

 

It never works when you tell the audience something they already know while trying to be enlightning! His statement last night should be insulting to anyone that knows the game. Buck got his job for no other reason then nepotism.

Well I am just fine with watching sports with the sound off.  Except for a few obscure calls in any sports (and I'm not that much of a sports nut) you can easily watch a game and know what is going on and not have the intrusion of the announcers killing time.  I know everyone is partisan to certain announcers but honestly they add very little in my opinion, unless they are announcing on radio, at which point they are obviously important.

 

I too don't normally need the sound on for games especially football. I prefer to listen to music  while watching the games with the TV sound down. World series is a bit of a passion for me, and Buck for the last number of years has almost ruined it for me (Thank God McCarver was fired a few years ago). For tonights game i'm gonna try something a bit different. I will sink my DVR with my sono and the national radio broadcast and see how that works. Except for the glorious inning and a half we got without Buck, i had to endure 5 hours of drivel from the Fox booth.  That is enough for this series for me. 

I've always found Joe Buck to be well-prepared and more than capable as a play-by-play announcer for both football and baseball. I've never really understood the hate for him.

For me it's the lack of insight he has for any sport he calls. Growing up and listening to his dad call a game, Jack always added something special with his description and insight. Last night Joe gave us this enlightening tidbit in a key moment of the game.

"'this is when the game of baseball is at it's best: when you've got a guy on the mound with a ball in his hand, and a guy at the plate with a bat in his hand."

Uh... Joe, that is Baseball! It's almost like he tries to be poetic with his call but ends up sounding like a douch bag!

 

The only thing I'm curious about is they don't seem to be adding "Big Decisions" to their recent set lists, which is too bad because it's one of my favorites off the new album.

My second favorite off the The Waterfalls. But after devouring the recored yesterday all tracks seem to be keepers. Funny for me that i like it so much,  because it was not well represented in the outstanding gig i saw on Saturday. A Friend just send me a digital copy of Z that i plan on sitting with and if i dig it will get the vinyl but only after i am finished with this release. I kinda like when i connect with new releases from a old band and work back through the catalogue. Same thing happened when i found Wilco during the pre YHF just after Summerteeth. I love finding new (old) bands! It's like i can have a new release any time i choose to buy it! I get to decide on the release date! 

 

I still don't think a festival set is the best way to experience a band, though, and there are a lot of people whose taste I share who really do love MMJ, so the next time they're playing a regular concert near me I'll give it another whirl. You never know! Thanks for the feedback and for not jumping down my throat!!

This happened to me. Go see them in a dark room with a decent view and let it flow. I'm not sure i will ever go to another festival again unless it's in the Berkshires with only one band that i really care about.

Saw them last night in Grand Prairie Texas for the second time, first in Denver for the Americanarama tour but didn't really connect for me at that gig. Boy did they ever last night! Now i gotta work on collecting another back catalogue! Picked up a signed copy of The Waterfall and find it great Sunday morning music. I especially dig "Get The Point." Im not sure of the titles of the tracks i heard last night but i was really liking the more guitar heavy tracks. Any suggestions on what to get next?

Does the white vinyl copy have a sticker on the cover telling it's colored vinyl? i have two black copies already one from the Austin Waterloo gig and the other from pre-order. My local indy store has a copy but the clerk didn't know if it was colored or not, his copy didn't have a sticker. 

This is greatness! Back to the future 2 World Series prediction http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13902322/back-future-screenwriter-bob-gale-discusses-prediction-cubs-2015-world-series-champions?ex_cid=ESPNFB

Nice story about former TCU teammates Arrieta and Carpenters personal friendship. http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/153689556/jake-arrieta-matt-carpenter-bonded-in-college?tcid=tw_share#

I figure if the Cubs play through out and the series goes 7,  Arrieta will have 5 more starts. That alone will be a treat for me to watch this guy deal while he is in this zone. 

Love the fact that TCU pitchers are making names for themselves in the post season the past two years (Finnegan last year). Cubs fans your wait may just be over. Please just don't tear up the town if it comes to pass! Keep it classy. I'm sure the fine people of Chicago didn't burn down the city back in 1908. Last nights street celebration makes me worried a bit.

So after 162 games it is all over.  The 2015 regular season is in the books.  Time to give out your awards:

 

AL

Rookie of the Year: Carlos Correa (Astros)

Cy Young: Dallas Keuchel (Astros)

MVP: Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays)

Manager of the Year: John Gibbons (Blue Jays)

 

NL

Rookie of the Year: Kris Bryant (Cubs)

Cy Young: Jake Arrieta (Cubs)

MVP: Jake Arrieta (Cubs)

Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon (Cubs)

You don't happen to be a Cubs fan by any chance?   Not that i don't agree with any of your picks. Especially Arrieta. He has been lights out lately!

 As far as Pat's guitar moves being cliché rock star styling, I think they are executed in a fairly tongue-in-cheek manner and as an homage to guitar god Pete Townshend. Pat doesn't bust out the windmill unless he's really feeling it. I've been at a few shows where he is subdued to the point of looking almost bored.

That's my point. He doesn't play with any natural emotion. He seems to either emulate or show nothing. Nels i "believe" when he is playing like a maniac. Nothing seems forced. I'm glad Pat is part of this band but not to the point he needs to take any of the lime light away from Nels while playing live. I don't think he "feels" the music like the rest of the boys.

I can't remember if the band had played any of the songs acoustic in front of a audiance before the Waterloo gig. Was Waterloo the first? 

I think both tunes Random Name Generator and Joke Explained translated great. But thats my favorite one two punch on the release anyway so my judgment may have been influenced. 

It would have been cool to see the band do one electric and one acoustic Star Wars to start both Stubbs gigs. It was after all the first time Star Wars had been played back to back same venue.

I don't doubt that Pat can solo with the best of them and do a great job musically, and maybe even add something special  to that solo. But to me his body language always seemed forced or rock star cliché.' When Nels plays his body language is so natural and emotional. It adds to his play. 

Nels plays with much more natural body emotion then Pat and that's what adds to my enjoyment of watching live music.

Wrist band spoken for

i still need one for Wednesday if any one has a extra. I have a extra wrist band for the Waterloo in store if anyone want to trade.

I had a friend in Austin swing by and pick up two wrist bands but i only need one. The policy is for every SW item you buy you get one wrist band. I had her pick up the cd and vinyl. I didn't realize the vinyl would be available but it is at Waterloo today. I didn't really need either because i have the vinyl coming in a pre-order and don't really listen to cd's. So if anyone needs a band let me know. I will have a extra. If you want the cd cool, you can have the band and reimburse me for the cd. Otherwise i will gift the cd to my friend and you can have the band FOC.   The vinyl i will keep and get signed. :-) I should be getting into Austin around noon. PM me if interested.

I really want to go, but if I go to Waterloo, it will mean leaving Stubb's with no one to queue in my place. :/

i don't think you will need to be in line that early for a mid week stubs gig to get a good spot.

I don't know where I'm staying yet. I might just sleep in my conversion van between gigs

I have an extra single ticket to both shows at Stubbs in Austin next week.  I am open to a potential barter:  ticket in exchange for show poster.  

 

Let me know if interested!  Thanks!  

i'll bite on that, i need one for Wednesday. Can the ticket be emailed? I live outside of the metroplex and am leaving around noon tomorrow