Glorious Sons and the Struts
With Thanksgiving last week I didn't much time to do anything that I could contribute to the blog. There was a chance I would just have a post that read "I regret eating so much pie."
A couple months ago The Struts had been announced at Wooly's (my favorite concert venue in Des Moines). My brothers and sister-in-laws were all excited for this show and we kept commenting that we need to get tickets but waited because we may have a hook up on free tickets.
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A couple weeks I checked and it turned out that the show had officially sold out. I am sure my long time readers and fans notice that the Struts are the first band to show up twice in my blog. The first time I wrote that Chad said "how are these guys not bigger?" Well people must have heard that and grabbed all their tickets. Look at us, our fingers on the pulse of America.
The day of the show arrived and we still didn't have tickets, Angie texted us "Struts tickets are for sale!" Two minutes later "They're sold out." I texted some people to see if anyone was interested in Creed 2 that night and I got a call from Andy "Ummmm we got tickets to the Struts. Sorry dude I knew you already had a chance to see them this year so I asked Matt and Angie to go."
So my evening plans seemed to derail to watching Simpsons while crying and eating cookie dough but then Andy sent me another text! "Tariq's plus one can't go. Would you mind being his plus one?" "Do I have to put out?" "It would be nice."
Everything fell into place and I was in for the Struts! I went home and put on my favorite winter concert shirt. It's a baseball shirt with a large Ramones Logo but instead of the Ramones it's the B Sharps from the Simpsons. I parked about a block from Wooly's and headed toward Quintons.
I got a picture of the Christmas decor. I posted it below, along with a picture I didn't take. Guess which one is mine.
The bar was about a block from Wooly's but it felt like miles because I was walking in 17 degree weather. By the time I got to the place I was falling about like the T-1000 at the end of T2.
The place was pretty posh and it became clear I was in the wrong place. A hostess greeted me and I told her I was looking for some friends for a concert. "Are they from Canada?" she asked me which felt like that was out of no where. "Do they have long hair? Because there is a band right over there." She pointed to a long table of grubby looking dudes with long stringy hair. "I bet that's the opening band." I told her. I pulled out my phone and explained who the Struts where. "Cool she said. Thanks for that info. I want to give you free $6 burger." I informed her that I already ate but she said "come back next Monday, my name is Sara. I will remember you." I don't know what's going to happen but you can bet your ass I am going to go there demanding a free burger.
I found Quitons and met up with the group.
We hung out for a little bit. I got a Holiday Shiner which turned out to be amazing!
Soon it was time to venture back out into the cold and head to the show.
We got our tickets and headed inside. Remember how I said this show was sold out? I wouldn't be surprised if this show was beyond sold out. The only other time I remember a show being that packed was at the Foo Fighters, also the first time I saw the Struts.
History was repeating itself in more ways that one because not only was the place packed but the opening band that none of us knew was killing it and grabbing all of our attention. "Who are these guys?" These guys kick ass?" ect. They are band from Canada called Glorious Sons!
After the show, I went to their merch table and got a CD. I was standing with my group when I noticed a cute blonde holding their vinyl record. "I'll trade you I said." She laughed and told me it wasn't hers. I sparked up a conversation for and noticed that she was holding a black marker, "You getting an autograph?" I asked. Yeah the will be at the table about half through the Struts so told me.
"I should get an autograph I said... Or do you want to autograph it with your number?" I asked. She shook her head no and laughed.
I thought it was cute. Can't blame a dude for trying.
Finally it was time for the magic hour! Again they killed it. If you get the chance I highly recommend these guys.
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Afterwards I was heading outside and I bumped into the led singer of Glorious Sons. "You kicked ass," I told him. He told me thank you and then looked at my shirt. "Is that a Homer's Barber Shop Quartet done in the Ramones style?" "YES!" I responded that he not only knew the reference but got it in a split second. "I love it!" He told me! Glorious Sons must be die hard Simpsons fans! I bet he was the on bus that night telling his band members about this dope guy he saw in an awesome Simpsons shirt.
I asked if he'd be willing to let me get a picture and he said of course.
https://amzn.to/2r7Z3JW
Superman 40th Anniversary
Sunday morning I was annoying my friends by texting them details about my New Years Eve show
Which has now been canceled!
My friend Sydney responded that she was going to have a free night and we should see a movie. We pitched a few ideas. Creed 2 was not an option because she hasn't seen Creed (and probably the other six Rocky movies) but luckily she's a geek like me and this week was the 40th Anniversary of Superman!
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The entire event started with a classic Max Fleischer Superman cartoon (in technicolor even!)
The episode they showed was the Mechanical Monsters. It was amazing but as an adult I can't help wondering how much this evil scientist spent on building these robots just to rob banks. If he didn't build the robots he probably wouldn't need to rob banks to pay of his creditors. This bad guy is as bad with money as I am.
It was funny watching Superman punch robots and push down metal doors and then have the scientist put a big log in front of a door. "That will stop him." Sydney said.
In all seriousness these cartoons are still impressive and inspired Batman the animated Series so I have a soft spot for them.
Once the movie began and that classic John Williams score started I got filled with so much glee. I love this movie and I would say this is the greatest movie theme song ever written better than Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
There are a few parts that haven't aged great. The effects of Clark Kent out running that train is about on the level of an old Three Stooges short.
Also the scene where Superman saves the little girls kitten from a tree and then girl runs inside and says that a flying man got her cat followed by the mom saying "What have I told you about telling lies!" Smack! Just some cute child abuse. For comedy.
As far as I am concerned the best person in the movie is the guy in the car that looks at Superman and says "Say Jim. Woo. That's a bad outfit!" I wish he was in Justice League and he saw every super hero and said that repeatedly. He could hang out in the bat cave with Alfred.
Sydney couldn't stop laughing at the cheese from the Lois and Superman flying scene. She nearly lost it when Lois started her weird little poem.
I leaned over and said "this is how Superman should have become friends with Batman in Batman V Superman." Imagine that poem in Batman's scary gravel voice.
We almost had an problem when she asked me "What is this the point of that guy?" referring to Otis. The point of Otis is that he is the greatest DC character ever created!
It is totally not the type of movie DC or Warner Bros is going to make today but it is so much fun and just puts you in a good mode with how sweet it is. It's not cool or dark or brooding but just makes you feel good like Superman should.
Steve Guttenberg on Twitter
Many years ago my friend Ryan and I not only got to meet Steve Guttenberg but Ryan talked him into coming out for a beer with us!
That was cool enough but yesterday Ryan got into yet another conversation with Steve
So far he hasn't taken me up on my offer for the issue of the vampire shark comic but I am sure he will! Steve Guttenburg as Ahab Vanhelsing and Michael Winslow as the vampire shark? Sounds like a hit to me!
Ok so this was pointless
Dogs I Saw Episode 4
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dogsisaw/episodes/2018-11-25T17_31_06-08_00
