The Art Of A Good Show

This is going to be a bit  all over the place but first off lets say music does not suck today anymore than it did 20 years ago or 40 years ago regardless of what you think. Two reasons –

1. The difference is that there is just a ton more music out there. The percentage of suck-arse bands is the same as always but it just is the fact that there are a lot more of them now. If you do not believe me go back and look at billboard listings in the 60’s and 70’s and you will see a plethora of suck-arse music out there and at the top of the charts.
2. People suck more today than they did 20 years ago. This is simply based on the fact of TV and all of our brains becoming mushier than the previous generation (minus you morons from the 60’s who sent us back 10,000* when a bone of a loved one and a rock made more sense than Jefferson Airplane). 

And this does manifest itself into live shows. Many bands today do not know the concept of a good live show. They think self-indulgence, LOUDER and more dialogue makes for a better show and they could not be further off. Let me use the recent Metallica show as a reference. Now maybe you do not like Metallica and I can respect (not understand mind you) that but they are professional musicians who take their job serious and deliver on your $69+:

1. As noted above this is a job and you are a professional. You may want to get blitzed or do blow off a stripper’s chest every night but this is your chosen job. You owe it to the people who you perform to be at your best no different than an athlete (And I totally support taking performance enhancing drugs by the way). The guys in Metallica are 40+ and still bust their ass every night and keep in good shape throughout an ENTIRE tour. A tour lasts 1 year max now days so take the next 5 months of “studio time” to get in your fill of blow and jack.
2. The set list is not for you. Do not be a self-indulgent jackass and play the songs you want to hear or run away from your “hits”. Play what people want to hear. You don’t think Keith Richards is sick of playing Satisfaction? Is Lars Ulrich still getting off playing Enter Sandman (Top Ten Worst Metallica Songs Ever) every night? Hell no, but they do get the concept that the show is not for them. If you want a show for you stay in your parents’ garage and invest in several mirrors.
3. Sound. I love loud music. I have been told in the last 2 months to turn down the music in my headphones on a friggin airplane for heavens sake. Keep in mind though that louder is not better. This goes out to you singers out there you always think, “the guitars are wayyyyy up”. If I cannot hear your words (when singing) and you are not Suicidal Tendencies than fire your sound guy. Ditch the 10 light operators and hire one good sound guy.
4. Keep talking to a minimum. Do not tell me how I rock between each song and how we are the best crowd every 3.4 minutes. Just shut your pie hole and play. I do not need to know how you wrote this song or what you think about “insert local sports team here”. 
5. Touring cannot be easy so get your ass in shape before you go. This goes out to you Mr. Tate and Queensryche. Next time you come to Chicago and play a shitty show and need to suck oxygen in between each verse I am going to throw a HoHo right at your stupid fucking pony tale. 

These are just a few suggestions. Sorry that this was a more “adult” themed entry with colorful language to those of you with sensitive tastes. If you ever need to catch a great show and Metallica is not your thing try the even more intense Killswitch Engage live show or a more soulful Greg Dulli one.

*Sorry to all you intelligent design believers out there. No wait. Screw off and read a book written by someone with an actual brain.

Not On My Bottle

For heavens sake is nothing sacred anymore.  I know I am a little crazy with my dislike of product change but come on –

 

 

 

 

A grey cap?  Grey?   This is a fucking Coke product is it not?  Look I will simplify it for you bring brained marketing and advertising monkeys at god’s chosen beverage plant. 

Coke

Red Cap

Now & Forever

Use that for your next marketing campaign and I will sue your ass off but you get my drift you Atlanta dipshits.  Now get back and work on protecting the secret ingredient instead of fucking with my cap color.

Oscar Prize Money

So unless the numbers change this is the winning take (Split from a pot that was $95)

• 1st Place – $80.00
• 2nd Place – $15.00

And our wonderful friend Bob Batzold has won the honor of having a free ballot next year due to his slightly off pace score of 16!  I can honestly say that the key for me this after doing these damn Oscar Pools for many years is this……never vote for who you want to win.  Only vote for who you think will win.  I always used to fight picks in the past and as an example I normally would have chosen Marisa Tomei over Penelope Cruz but this year I went in the opposite direction and throughout my own personal thoughts and just ran with the buzz/stats and it worked really well.  I think between the LA Times site THE ENVELOPE and Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune I received the best information as well.  Now maybe I can heck out some of the new movies as my head wont get in the way of my picks.  I am still really suspicious of Benjamin Button but we shall see.  

Thanks again to everyone that joined in.  Next year we will add some wrinkles and some improvements and please send me any suggestions or comments.  Thanks again.

And The Winner Is……

 

Lamest Trophy I Could Find

This is the after the 1st recount but I will of course re-check tomorrow and if you have any oddities let me know.  This was a close year and a great show so let us know your thoughts - 

Drumroll please…………………………….

1. Joseph M. – 69
2. Ann F. – 64 
3. Quinn – 62 (Ann’s 6 month old son by the way)
4. Juli P. – 60
5. TIE – Rachel/Eric & Katherine B. – 59
6. Matt P. – 58
7. Rhea & Olivia – 54
8. Mr. B – 54 (THE DOG)
9. Lindsay M. – 46
10. Sara B. – 42
11. Paula S. – 41
12. Dave H. – 40
13. Jen R. – 39
14. Bryan B. – 38 
15. Denise & Jerry C. – 26
16. Rosemary M. – 25
17. John R. – 19
18. Bob B. – 16

As you can see these scores are  in alot of bunches as the top 4 were only separated by 9 points which is a pretty narrow margin.  The final stroke came down to Ann vs. Me and it ended up being decided over Best Actor.  I do not have too much more to say as I have blogged pretty much throughout the show (12 times including this one) but I have to say this was a great show and I think the producers did a fantastic job along with Hugh Jackman.  Let me know any thoughts or comments as we love to hear from you.  Also send in your money and come back to the BM whenever you can.

For Once…Thank You Sean Penn

It looks like the winner is set but I will wait for the Best Picture award to confirm the tabulation but it looks like it has been a high point total year for sure.

And even though it is not done and I really did not like any of the nominees (sans Winslet) this was a GREAT show.  Bravo to the producers and Mr. Jackman.

YES!

Finally she gets one!  Nice job indeed.

Paul Newman

I think they should have had more of a tribute to Paul Newman but not bad.

Foreign Shocker

Most folks had Waltz With Bashir so that was a bit of a chocker but did not really throw a wrench in anything too much.  I do want to call out the 3 folks who had Departures though…nice job - 

• Katherine B.
• Sara B.
• And the combined team of Rhea & Olivia

3 out of 21 ballots is pretty amazing for a category that big.

Closer & Closer

We are heading toward a real showdown right now - 

1. Ann F. – 46
2. Joseph M. – 46

We also have the exact same picks for the rest of the show……..except for lead actor!

More Scores – 4 in a Row!

4 quick fire categories made that a pretty rough ride so remember these are not confirmed - 

1. Ann F. – 42
2. Joseph M. – 42
3. Juli P. – 38

And enough with using Coldplay for every musical interlude.