Race for the Presidency

Wayne Blogged The...Race For The Presidency
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John McCain is a crazy, crazy man. A war hero? Yes. But also a crazy 72-year old man willing to change his beliefs in order to get elected. The senator McCain of eight years ago is NOT the same person running for President today. He has become a mirror-image of George W. Bush, right down to the campaign tactics.

Barack Obama on the other hand, is exactly what this country needs. His speech last night (watched by 38 million viewers) was one of the best political moments in recent memory.

So please, for the future of this country, vote Barack Obama!

Current Albums I'm Diggin' On

Wayne Blogged The...Current Albums (He's) Diggin' On
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In the past, I've listed the five albums I've really been into on the sidebar of this blog. But no more. Simply because by the halfway mark of the month, my taste has changed. So, here's the first addition of albums I've been diggin' on lately.

1) Voo Doo- D'Angelo
Pino Palldino is a funky, funky man. His bass playing is unbelievable on this record, so far behind the beat. It's also just a great R&B record, very good to chill out to.

2) Sea Change- Beck
Perhaps his best record to date, Sea Change melds Beck's folk sensibilities with his usual wackiness. Pretty great record.

3) Music For 18 Musicians- Steve Reich
I've been dabbling in the musical style of minimalism lately, and this record has blown me away. There's so much tension and release, and little musical nuances that really only musicians can appreciate. Not for the masses, but definitely for musicians.

4) Boxer- The National
The National have quickly become one of my favorite bands. And their latest release "Boxer" is one of the best albums to come out this decade. From start to finish, not a single dud.

Nod Of Approval: Norm Macdonald's roast of Bob Saget

Wayne Blogged The...Nod of Approval: Norm Macdonald's Roast of Bob Saget.
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Norm's roast of Bob Saget was the only original act of the night. Comedy Central should sell his act alone on ITunes...Either way, I still bought the entire thing for $4.

Check out another blogger's opinion, and the video itself here. Prepare yourself for the driest and funniest humor ever.

Show Review: Radiohead

Wayne Blogged The...Show Review:
Radiohead. Comcast Center, August 13,2008
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My oh my, if the indie rock gods don't smite me now they never will...

Last night's Radiohead concert at the Greatwoodstweetercomcast Center in Mansfield, MA left the 19,889 other fans (a mixture of dads, bros, and hipsters) blinded by the intensity of the performance. But none of them were listening.

Let me precursor this dangerous review with a fact: I love Radiohead. They've made continuley interesting music over the past decade, a feat not many bands can claim. But last night's show let me down.

The stage set up was amazing, the lights were great, the set list was solid, the opening band (Grizzly Bear) was great...but Radiohead's performance just seemed...truly uninspired.

Thom Yorke still did his impression of a chimp doing the running man during the set. The band was pretty tight, and seemed appreciative of the responce they were getting...but they really weren't connecting with the crowd...they were playing TO them. For such a non-conformist, Yorke's stage presence is very contradictory. Early on, you can tell he's uncomfortable in his situation. And instead of making the crowd feel like they're part of the show, or that this is a special night, the band just went through the motions in a very "we are the band, you are the audience, those are our roles." type of way.

And besides the fact that I felt like they were trying to convey the feeling of doing America a favor by touring, their music doesn't translate well live, no matter how hard they try to disguise that with their light show. There's no hope in their music, nothing to smile about. And that's fine, it's part of the reason everyone loves Radiohead. But live, it just brought me down. I don't know about the thousands of over crowd members, but I like smiling at concerts. I even like jumping occasionally (which is more like flailing like a Kermit The Frog puppet), but Radiohead's music just makes me cross my arms and contemplate my existence.

If there was ever a box set of all of Radiohead's albums, it should be called Music For The Bush Administration Years. Just a lot of angst, and uncertainty pumping from the loud speakers in Mansfield last night...

Bands That Need To Retire...part 2

Wayne Blogged The...Bands That Need To Retire
Part 2
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It's time for another installment of Bands That Need To Retire. I neglected to mention some key players in the nostalgia act genre last time...so here we go:

Bands That Need To Retire: NOW

Issac Hayes: You gotta know when to call it quits man.

Goodbye Children!

Show Review: Wilco

Wayne Blogged The...Show Review: Wilco
Tanglewood. August 12, 2008
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You'd think that after my five previous Wilco shows, it would become almost routine. But last night's show at the beautiful Tanglewood Theater in Lenox, MA was anything but routine. Tweedy and company, dressed in glimmering suits, ran a musical marathon with a two and a half hour set that acted as a collage of their career. The usuals were all there (I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Heavy Metal Drummer, Jesus etc), but they were in good company with rarely played Summerteeth songs (Pieholden Suite, Can't Stand It, Summer Teeth) and a mixed-bag of other noteable rockers (Monday, Pot Kettle Black). The band seemed to be in good spirits, and seemed humbled to be playing at Tanglewood.

The Total Pros horn section joined the band on 10 of the 26 songs. The only surprise was that opener Andrew Bird didn't join the band onstage like he has in the past.
Speaking of the Birdman, he opened the evening with style. His 10 song set was polietly-received by the crowd, who were still filing into their seats (or scattering themselves on the lawn). Watching Andrew Bird perform is actually a bit uncomfortable. His stage-presence is a mix of Morrissey and Dave Matthews...but with a violin and in a shirt, tie, and slacks. For as good as Bird's set was, I couldn't help but feel it didn't really fit the mood of the evening.

Wilco's set was very well received, and the crowd seemed to be having a great time. A special night in the heart of Western Massachusetts.



Set List:

Either Way
Hummingbird
Remember The Mountain Bed
Muzzle of Bees
You Are My Face
Impossible Germany
IATTBYH
A Shot in the Arm
What Light (w/Total Pros horns)
California Stars (w/TPs)
Pieholden Suite (w/TPs)
Handshake Drugs
Pot Kettle Black
Summer Teeth
Jesus, etc.
Poor Places>
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
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Can't Stand It (w/TPs)
Hate It Here (w/TPs)
Walken (w/TPs)
I'm The Man Who Loves You (w/TPs)
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The Late Greats (w/TPs)
Heavy Metal Drummer
Monday (w/TPs)>
Outtasite (Outta Mind) (w/TPs)
I'm A Wheel

Thanks to Abbie Rickard for the photo.

Show Review: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

Wayne Blogged The...Show Review: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Gillette Stadium. August 2, 2008
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Words honestly couldn't convey the spirit and energy of this concert. And only true fans will appreciate this...but look how awesome this set list is:

August 2, 2008
Foxborough, Massachusetts
Gilette Stadium

Summertime Blues
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out { lyrics }
Radio Nowhere { lyrics }
Lonesome Day { lyrics }
The Promised Land { lyrics }
Spirit In The Night { lyrics }
Tunnel Of Love { lyrics }
Light Of Day { lyrics }
Little Latin Lupe Lu [first time with E Street Band since 1977!]
Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street? { lyrics }
Hungry Heart { lyrics }
Who'll Stop The Rain [Tour Premiere]
Youngstown { lyrics }
Murder Incorporated { lyrics }
She's The One { lyrics }
Livin' In The Future { lyrics }
Mary's Place { lyrics }
The Rising { lyrics }
Last To Die { lyrics }
Long Walk Home { lyrics }
Badlands { lyrics }

I'm Going Down { lyrics }
Jungleland { lyrics }
Born To Run { lyrics }
Glory Days { lyrics }
Dancing In The Dark { lyrics }
American Land { lyrics }
Rosalita { lyrics }