So, I got home from the Chimaira show late late Thursday night, and got an email from the record label of the Trans Siberian Orchestra telling me I was all set for tickets for the Saturday show! So, yup, Saturday night at the Coluseum in Madison for Trans Siberian Orchestra! I’ve seen the tour the last three years, and it’s always great! This year featured a lot of the same musicians, including two members from the band Savatage, and the band director, Al Pitrelli was also in Megadeth. So while it’s festive and holiday-ish, it also has its roots in some good ol hard rock! So, yeah, always cool. This year the stage show was kicked up a notch! Lasers, smoke, steam, more lights than you can imagine, and yup, FIRE! Pyrotechnics. It was almost over the top, but I really dig cool stage shows and this was one of them. It will be hard to top! When we (me and the book) got there, I went to will call to get the tickets, and clipped to the envelope were LAMINATES! Yup, VIP passes, with a lanyard. Pretty cool. Although, we were on a mission that night, so we didn’t put them to use, other than to be like Wayne and Garth at the Alice Cooper concert, and just show them off!
Right when TSO finished, we took off, and headed to the Annex. Nonpoint is in town, and we made it in time! V-Shape Mind was finishing up their set when we got there (we saw 2 songs), and then Nonpoint came on… They had a crushing set, and wow, they always put on a great show! Of course they thanked WJJO profusely, because, well, WJJO brought them to the masses, but a handful of people know that I was on the first Nonpoint CD when it came out, MONTHS before WJJO ever heard of them… Heck, Nonpoint were even guests on The Mosh Pit back then too! So :P~~~~ on them! haha Anyways…
After Nonpoint, we headed to the Anchor Inn. A couple local bands were playing a benefit type show for gimpradio.com The Skintones and Halcyon. Two bands I’ve wanted to see for some time. And they were both pretty good. We got there in time for 2 or 3 Skintones songs and all of Halcyon.
Whew! 3 shows in one night! It was fun… the music Trifecta. Too bad there wasn’t time to check out Road Trip at Luther’s Blues too!
Okay, then last night, Jackyl, yes, Jackyl came to the Annex. They put on a great show too. Good solid hard rockin’ time mixed with a Chainsaw! Pretty damn fun.
Yeah, I’m still here… just been busy and too lazy to post things.
Went to see one of my favorite bands tonight, Soilwork, while they are on tour with Chimaira. Great show, and that wraps up shows at the Rave for the year. WOW, I don’t think I’ve been there more any other year besides this one. We saw the Pool tonight. Yes, there’s a pool at the rave, well, it’s not full of water, and it’s always been so elusive for us, as we knew there was a pool there, and had an idea where it was, but we never really got to see it. Tonight we saw it.
Monday night it was the 1st of week of December Mosh Pit shows. December shows are usually the most fun. Here’s why. The trade magazines that I report my songs played and top 20, as well as record labels all pretty much shut down for the end of the year. What does this mean? I don’t really have to follow a chart (which I make anyways)… but really it means, play stuff we want, without following a chart or anything. These shows are great and listeners dig ‘em!
A Friend of mine that works at Land’s End hooked me up with a really great discount, so I now have a REAL winter coat! It just arrived today, and it’s BIG! XXL-Tall, and RED! wowza
I’m still doing a little better in sporting news fantasy hockey. Still in 3rd place, but holding steady, gaining a little ground here and there.
that’s all for now!
So, yeah, someone commented on my last post about my trip to the playground… it’s comedy, at my expense.
So, I took Jules (my 1st Cousin Kelly’s Son) and Tim to the playground behind the middle school last Saturday. I brought my camera and took some pix from that and the whole weekend… (click on Photo Gallery) above. ANYWAYS… I thought I’d let the kids run around and play for a bit while I sat down in a swing. I was wearing my big huge poofy winter coat. And I was there for a bit, and I guess my butt wasn’t on the swing right, and I just flopped right back off the swing and landed headfirst (the back/top of my head) into the pea gravel. OUCH! I thought maybe I could have knocked myself out, but I was conscious enough to make sure the swing didn’t whack me on the way back. So, yeah, I just laid there flat out for a minute or so, no one noticed! Ugh… So, yeah, I’m okay now, you can stop laughing.
So, yeah, above at the “Photo Gallery” link, there are pictures from Tim’s birthday and from the last weekend he was here.
Packers Won today!
I’m back in 3rd in Fantasy Hockey, I guess I’ll keep trying, I already paid for it!
And it’s back to work tomorrow.
Tuesday is what could be the Metal concert of the year… er, well, in the Top 5. Dimmu Borgir, Nevermore, Children of Bodom and Hypocrisy. Excitement!
On Saturday, we all headed to Home Depot to exchange a faucet. Then came home and I made lunch! We hung out some more, then after attempting to cram a couch in the basement… unsucessfully I might add. We gave Jules a call, and I picked him up, we went to the playground behind the middle school. Yes, it was cold, but we all bundled up nice and warm, and just ran around. Well, I didn’t run around too much, I’m too old. I took a bunch of pictures that I will post soon. Then it was time to come back home and Jules and Tim got to play for a bit, some pinball, roadblasters, legos, you name it. I just got dinner ready. More playing and stuff, then Jules went home and it was time for Tim to go to bed.
Sunday rolls around…
Tim and I just hung out and played, then he had to take a bath, after he was done, it was shower time for me, then we played Life and Chutes and Ladders, then off to the bowling alley! We met my dad there, and bowled a game without bumpers, then one with. It was lots of fun, and Tim even got a strike (not even using the bumpers!). Then it was time for some dinner, and time to take him home. 
Was a pretty good weekend!
After getting him home safe n sound, it was off to Mike’s house to meet up to see Lacuna Coil and Dog Fashion Disco at the annex in Mad-town. Great show, and it was nice to have a good show just in Madison!
That’s it for now…
