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BETTER BLOGGING?
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Everytime I say im going to keep these posts coming on the regular, I wind up slacking. What can I say? Im not being paid to do this, and as much as I enjoy it, it still requires time and effort that I wind up wasting on everything else including my job...
Regardless of all that, here I am writing again in hopes of getting a few laughs and the random feedback that these posts tend to result in. I love that people write to me after they read these. I actually prefer the bad reviews than the good as those are the people who seem to actually read the whole thing and then tell me how I "ramble too much" or "suck" or "forgot to plug their vodka brand" or "should try a grammar check before publishing". I'll get right on that...
In the meantime, I have been reading and searching out a lot of new blogs (new to me that is) in search of ideas, new music, and possible insight as to what makes a "good blog". Is it content? writing style? occasional porn and free mp3s? me thinks the latter...so I will keep an eye out for all of these, the finer things in life, startiiinnnnnng NOW!
FREE NEW MUSIC! Do yourself a favor and check out aquarium drunkard and ick music. These guys have loads of new music as well as some really awesome rarities, cool live stuff, random covers, and much cooler website names than mine. beaten again by the hip...
Ive been downloading a truck load of great stuff thanks to them.
Once I determine a way to store some music on my server I'll start uploading some of gems from my own collection and things I find from time to time.
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VAN HALEN LIVE
@ Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA 10.03.07
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When I heard that Van Halen was finally going to tour with David Lee Roth I was VERY skeptical. So much has happened with the band over the years that I felt it was simply too late and that it could never be great again.
I was wrong.
I decided not to wait until the November 13 show in NYC and scored some decent tix for Lori and I to see them in Philly. Im glad we did, and we will definitely be going again next month.
I am going again not only because they were great, but also because I was sober at the philly show, and I was also so nervous that they'd suck that I almost couldnt enjoy myself. I just stood there worrying and nodding and playing air guitar...
The set list was really awesome. They played all but one song off their first album, as well as 2-4 songs from the rest of the Roth albums. Lots of album cuts, lots of improv, and of course No Hagar songs! They truly seem to be having a blast.
My only gripe of course is that Wolfgang Van Halen (Eddies 16 yr old son) does not quite fill the void let by oringal bass player Michael Anthony. Wolfgang can definitely sing and play well, but he simply cannot hang with the big boys. I love that he is a part of the band, but I think it would have been cooler to have him on rhythm guitar or something instead and bring out the oringal lineup. whatever, like Roth said at the show "3 parts original, 1 part inevitable". I got more than my moneys worth. you should too.
I never got to see the mighty van halen in the 80s with Roth. I was too young and by the time I was sneaking out to see them live they had "replaced" Roth with Sammy Hagar. Im a huge Eddie fan, but it was simply a different band without Diamond Dave. I have probably listened to their albums a zillion times over and over, and thanks to youtube Ive seen a decent amount of old footage from their glory days, but nothing can compare to seeing them live in person. There is something to it, that just doesnt come through on a recording like some bands.
Big hugs to Angie for taking the time to come out and say hello!
I still prefer to remember them like this.....(thanks to Blatter for the sweet pics)
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ZIP CAR!
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I should also mention that I finally tried ZIPCAR rather than take the train or rental car to get to Philly.
Zipcar is a pretty great idea for city dwellers who cant own a car and dont want to deal with rental cars.
You dont pay for gas, you get a lot of free miles, and they have lots of cool cars all over the city that you can drive without setting foot in a rental office.
I got a BMW 328i and drove it like a champ.
Not a bad way to visit "the city of brotherly love".
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THE WHIZ!
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I also finally took Lori to Ishakabibble , the famous cheese steak joint on South St.
I ate whole cheesesteak and half of her chicken philly and never felt better...Lori didnt feel quite the same way.
Cheese Whiz truly is natures candy.
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L.O.R.I.
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I probably havent said enough how cool my wife Lori is.
Im sure she had no interest in poisoning her body with questionable ingredients like that. Im also pretty sure that more than half of the things I like to eat, watch, or do, she is way too hot for me and she somehow puts up with me just because she is good person, and loves me even though I talk about myself constantly, hog the bed, eat mostly with my hands, burp, fart, and sweat a LOT, complain about my stiff back and legs, and tend to forget her name....
Heres to you Loni !!!
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MY CURRENT TOP 10
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Van Halen Tour - see it!
Zip Car - drive it!
Ishakabibble - eat it!
Radiohead "In Rainbows" - buy it (and pick the price!)
Killswitch Engage "Holy Diver"- watch it!
My New Gary Fisher HKEK - dont FUCKING steal it!
Orange V Vodka - drink it!
Swindle Magazine - read it!
The Box - dig it!
Darjileen Lmited - see it!
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*Thats it for now. Short & Sweet.
Like you Like.
CYA SOON!
-all photos and stories taken and written by matt hanrahan
