April 26th 2010: CftPA live at Johnny Brenda’s
Hey everyone,
I have to say that last night’s Casiotone for the Painfully Alone concert was mind blowing. I started to write out the set list but as my phone was low on battery and I felt rude using my phone as I was one of the dozen or so people in the venue. I did use my phone to record the concert poorly. I started the recording right at the end of the first song, Nashville Parthenon.
Here’s the setlist:
Nashville Parthenon
I Love Creedence
New Year’s Kiss
Tom Justice, The Choir Boy Robber, Apprehended at Ace Hardware in Libertyville, IL
Optimist Vs the Silent Alarm (When the Saints go Marching in)
Natural Light
Traveling Salesman’s Young Wife Home Alone on Christmas in Montpelier, VT
Man O’ War
Killers
Harsh the Herald Angels Sing
You Were Alone
Cold White Christmas
Bobby Malone Moves Home
Don’t They Have Payphones Wherever You Were Last Night
The Subway Home
White Jetta
I don’t know if you’ve noticed a patern in the setlist but they played Vs Childeren straight through, in order. EXCEPT for the one song on the album I really wanted to hear. Lucky for me you can’t hear my groan on tape when after playing Man O’ War, Owen says the next song they’re going to play is Killers. D’oh! I was really looking forward to hearing it as when I emailed Owen in March he said they were practicing it. There’s always tonight’s concert right? Other than that though, the full band was great to see live and the trombone and trumpets added a really nice touch to the songs. I’m really looking forward to tonights concert.
I swear this “Northfield, MN” song is turning into my new “Twin Human Highway Flares”. I'm going to record tonights concert on my phone again, the audio quality is really horrible but it's good for me to construct a setlist afterwards (it's hard to remember all the songs played and their order!)
TwentyTen Resolutions
As someone that spends a lot of money on fast food. My first resolution is to cut back on my fast food intake which I'm already batting 1.000%!
Another resolution is to get in the shower first. I'm a lazy morning person, so lazy that I often don't get in the shower till 8:05am when I need to leave for work at 8:15! Since my Roommate shifted his morning schedule by more than 45 minutes I'm going to try and take my shower first from now on.
This will also help with making sure I get to work on time and speed less.
I want to learn the piano and use the keyboard next to my computer for more than just a shelf. I'd like to record more music and go to less concerts. Not cutting them out, just quality over quantity now.
I want to update my blog more often, and spend more time outdoors. I'd like to be less critical and say yes more often.
I want to hang out with friends and stop using distance as an excuse not to. I want to be more productive at work and get a promotion.
I want to read a lot more comics, play less video games. Go to bed on time and stop procrastinating.
Here's hoping that I'll be able to make this year better than the last!
2009: A good year.
2009:
Janurary 6th Okkervil River @ The Bell House in Brooklyn NYC FLICKR
March 13th Les Savy Fav @ Brooklyn NYC FLICKR REVIEW
March 14th MET @ NYC FLICKR
March 27th Mountain Goats @ NYC FLICKR REVIEW
April 7th Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves L 0-4 FLICKR
April 17th Of Montreal @ Brooklyn NYC FLICKR
April 18th Flight of the Conchords @ Tower Theater in Philly FLICKR
April 20th Phillies vs. San Diego Padres PPD
April 28th Phillies vs. Washington Nationals W 7-1
April 30th Electric Six @ Johnny Brenda's in Philly FLICKR
May 1st Phillies vs. New York Mets L 4-7
May 2nd Phillies vs. New York Mets W 6-5 FLICKR
May 13th Phillies vs. Los Angles Dodgers L 2-9
May 16th MOPAR Show at Englishtown (tentative)
May 26th Phillies vs. Florida Marlins W5-3
May 29th The National @ The Electric Factory in Philly FLICKR
June 5th Nine Inch Nails @ Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden NJ FLICKR
June 10th Decemberists @ Radio City Music Hall in NYC FLICKR
June 11th Band of Horses @ Carnegie Hall in NYC FLICKR
June 12th to June 14th ZOOP! FLICKR
June 17th Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays L 1-7
July 2nd Casiotone for the Painfully Alone @ First Unitarian Chruch
July 6th Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds W 22-1
July 10th Phillies vs. Pittsburg Pirates W 3-2
July 22nd Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs L 5-10
July 24th The Hold Steady @ The Starland Ballroom REVIEW
August 4th Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies L 3-8
August 7th Phillies vs. Florida Marlins L 2-3
August 18th Trenton Thunder vs. Erie Seawolves SUSPENDED
August 20th Phillies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks W 12-3
August 24th Trenton Thunder vs Fisher Cats L 8-5
September 2nd Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants L 0-4
September 15th Phillies vs. Washington Nationals W 5-0
September 28th Phillies vs. Houston Astros W 7-4
October 2nd Phillies vs. Florida Marlins L 2-7
October 8th Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies (NLDS game 2) L 4-5
October 21st Phillies vs. Los Angles Dodgers (NLCS game 5) W 10-4
October 31st Phillies vs. New York Yankees (World Series game 3) L 5-8
November 13th to November 16th Trip to Boston, Mass. REVIEW
Megabus NYC > Boston
Megabus from NYC to Boston
I started out this trip running late, which is always a bad thing. Afraid that I would miss my train to New York, I rushed out of the door to the train station. Once I got into Princeton Junction, I was just in time to see the train leave for New York. Panicked, I ran the train schedule to see when the next train was. Much to my dismay, the shedule read that the next train wouldn't leave for another half hour and wouldn't arrive in New York until a full 10 minutes after my bus was to leave bound for Boston.
I had thought that when I was at home I noticed there was an express that ran between these two trains, but the schedule didn't say it so I was worried. What do I do when I'm worried that everything is falling apart at the seams with no way to fix it? I called the SUPERPOPE. The SUPERPOPE confirmed that there was an express train that would get me into New York on time. Just as that crisis was averted, another began.
I had forgotten my confirmation for the bus on the floor of my bedroom! Megabus was very clear that the only thing you needed to get on the bus was your ID and the confirmation number. Calmly, cooly and brilliantly the SUPERPOPE offered to look up my number on my email and text me the number. EVERYTHING WAS COMING UP MILLHOUSE.
I get to New York and head out of Penn Station to look for the bus stop. I had read reviews online where the only complaint was that the bus stop was dificult to find. I knew from Google Maps which corner of Penn Station to leave from and the bus stop was right at the top of the staris. Sure it wasn't a giant sign but it was still clearly marked and there were already lines for other buses heading to Megabus' other locations.
I got in line a half hour before the bus was scheduled to leave, as per the email (that I had left behind!) and was fairly close to the front of the line. The staff was friendly and when they weren't helping the travelers out, they were making sure the area was nice and clean. Having my reservation number via text message wasn't a problem and I got right on the beautiful bus and headed right up to the upper deck.
The seats are comfortable and remind me of the amtrack seats. For every pair of seats there is one outlet which worked for me because I was lucky enough to have my row to myself. The bus had free wifi but it didn't kick in until we started driving and it also shut off for some reason when we crossed into MA.
The trip took about 4 and a half hours and was pretty smooth. The only part of the trip I got a little car sick on was when we were leaving New York with all the starts and stops and turns. Once we hit the highway we were golden. The driver was excellent and not one moment did I feel as if I had taken my life into my hands just to save some cash.
Remember, the trip cost me a total of $5.75 each way, less than the price of 2 gallons of gas. So far I believe that the Megabus is an incredible value and WILL be using it again and again anytime I need to come up to Boston. Lets just hope they don't make me eat my words with a terrible return trip.
Shipping up to Boston
Hello faithful readers, I'm sorry that things just, well, stopped there at the end of October. It was expected if you read my first post but I really tried there and I will get around to watching the final six movies and posting a review for each one.
As a punishment I'm considering making the last six films a special "Ziggy's nightmare punishment" and be open to all request. That's ALL request which means you don't even have to request something within the horror genre. Want to make me watch Dumb & Dumberer? How about White Chicks? I will embarrassingly decline any terrible movies that I've already watched (like Anger Management). If I get more than six requests we'll put it up for a vote. All of the reviews will be completed by the end of this year.
In the next few weeks look for my review of the Megabus as I'm going to be taking one to and from Boston this weekend. Also there will be some comic book reviews and a review of the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game, which I just completed.