My blog n'at

Chris Cornell is my favorite singer of all time. He’s above Eddie Vedder and all others and Friday night I got to spend 2.5 incredible hours listening to him make a guitar sing, cry, love, hate and bleed.

The show was held at the historic (isn’t everything in Pittsburgh historic by this point?) Carnegie Music Hall which is attached to the Carnegie Museum of Art & Natural History in Oakland.

Chris rocked out a set list and took requests from the audience for 2 hours before handing out a solid 30 minute encore. He covered songs stretching across his career from Temple of the Dog, his time with Soundgarden and Audioslave to his multiple solo collections. This wasn’t just a night for the greatest hits but for a man and his guitar to tell the stories behind the songs and why/how they came to be. He covered Led Zepplin and multiple Beetles songs before closing the night with a hair raising, goosebump inducing, tearjerker rendition of Blow Up the Outside World (my favorite song for those of you keeping track at home. Surprised its not Spoonman eh?).

Our view was fantastic also. 1st balcony section 4. No obstruction, just a straight up view of Chris.

In almost 20 years of being a Soundgarden fan this was my first chance to see him live and it was well worth the wait. I wont hold out another 20 years to do it again.

The show was everything I had hyped up in my head and I only wish there was someway to relive it again like I can with Pearl Jam (there are bootlegs of every show. Recording is welcomed!)

Here is the setlist I found online. Looks pretty accurate but take the net for what its worth.

1. Scar on the Sky
2. Ground Zero
3. Hope and Promise Fade
4. Can’t Change Me
5. Be Yourself
6. Wide Awake
7. Fell on Black Days
8. Call Me a Dog
9. Hunger Strike
10. You Know My Name
11. Billie Jean
12. Outshined
13. Sunshower
14. Getaway Car
15. State Trooper
16. When I’m Down
17. Seasons
18. Wooden Jesus
19. Burden in my Hand
20. Mind Riot
21. Like a Stone
22. Doesn’t Remind Me
23. A Day in the Life

Encore:

24. Thank You
25. Black Hole Sun
26. The Keeper
27. Say Hello to Heaven
28. Imagine
29. Blow Up the Outside World

All in all it was a magical night but there were a few problems. Always is eh?

1. No photography – This is an absolute bullshite rule and I don’t mean professional cameras, I’m talking about your cell phones. During the whole show we were constantly distracted by ushers flashing their lights in everyone’s faces telling them to stop taking photos or they’ll take your phone. Even if you were texting (why weren’t you watching the show?) you still got harassed. When we entered the venue the ticket taker asked to see our phones and if they took pictures we would have to hand them over. We chuckled and kept walking.
2. Heat – The seats are small and very close together. With a sold out show it was next to impossible to get air and after almost 3 hours one of the ushers finally opened a door for us.
3. Drunks – I don’t care what state of mind you’re in but if you yell Free Bird over and over you’re going to get beat down. Better yet you shout out after every song the same title for him to play and when he does play it you say “Oh, I meant something else.”
4. Recording – if the artist isn’t going to record the show for later release then why can’t I have a pocket recorder on me? I’m not saying you need to walk in with a studio but I saw a guy with a small handheld in his shirt and you’d think he was strapped with a bomb.  I would love for a copy of last night’s show so I can relive it over and over again. This is where Pearl Jam and KISS do it right
5. Merch – I really wanted a shirt but $30? Didn’t happen. Thought maybe I could get one online a little cheaper and I was wrong, merch from the show isn’t even online. I would have gladly paid for a hoodie or make someone else buy me the shirt for Christmas.

watch on You Tube

Friday night Lushie and I spent the evening at the symphony. Little known fact, I dig classical music. Always have but not something most people expect from a guy who loves grunge music.

I scored tickets in the orchestra section to see Beethoven Extravaganza with Grammy nominated  Erotica Trio on opening night. This was the first time I’ve been in Heinz Hall and I have to say that it is absolutely amazing. We walked in and listened to this 9yr old rock out on the piano, did a quick tour of the hall so I could soak it all in before the show started and kicked back in one of the most comfortable seats ever.

Some things I learned:

• Couple of the night – Dude was in a Pens sweatshirt, date was in a ball gown
• If you think waiting to use the bathroom at a sporting event or concert is long try waiting behind a line for 70 yr old men. I think Teaspoon aged a year or 2.
• I completely zoned out and lost about an hour of time. Unlike what some people may think it had nothing to do with 3 incredibly attractive women in dresses thrashing their instruments.  OK it MAY have…
• We kept getting the stink eye from some lady by us. Apparently we were in season ticket holder section and were the outcasts. Funny thing was she fell asleep 5 minutes in.
• Find a reason to go to a show here. Acoustics were amazing!
• Don’t buy the beer. Prices were close to the inflation you see at Heinz Field.

It’s rare for us to get a night out, let a lone downtown, so it was eye opening to see how much the city has started to grow in the evening. I love the city and the people we got to hang out with make any trip into the city well worth it. Now if we could just find a sitter that would stay over so we can stay out later

I’ve been a member of Pearl Jam’s 10 Club for a while and every year around Christmas time you can expect a kickass magazine to arrive (usually in a comic book format) and a special recording.  This year there is a special edition LP. That’s great right? Yeah if I had something that played records.

Thankfully they did send a digital version but it got me thinking about how the format of music has changed. I have a couple cassette decks in my basement but something to play vinyl?  I remember having an adapter to play cassettes in an 8-track device. This may have to stay an un-touch collectors item.

I will always love Pearl Jam and I dig that they still bust out vinyl. Someday I’ll have to explain to my boys this form of media and hopefully then I can actually play it.

Dear Christina,

WTF! Seriously, wtf are you doing! I just watched your latest video and have to ask, are you that upset Lady GaGa has been able to do what your X-tina personality failed to do almost 10 years ago? Honey, you are turning 30 this year. Stop with the “this is the real me and if you don’t like it fuck you.” Face it, your time to be edgy like that has past and as you saw previously that not only made you a joke but ruined your image. Yeah I get reinventing yourself but please, you’re looking pathetic trying to be someone who’s obviously taken over your fame.

Christina, you have one of the most incredible voices but yet you choose for whatever reason to screw up your career with the consistency of Big Ben. You have the potential to be one of the classiest women in music. You’re still hot but you’re also from Wexford; you’re not gangsta or edgy. Do yourself a favor, figure out what exactly it is you want.

Love,
spoon

Since I started listening to KISS FM in the morning more my music appreciation has changed in the last couple of months.

I’ve liked this song and *JUST* found out who sings it. Shut up. You know you like it too. jagoffs.

Christ… who am i kidding. i need to drink whiskey and eat some steak while watching a Rambo movie

July
Began the month with recording at the BeerDependence Day celebration at Bocktown. Attended the Penguins Stanley Cup DVD Release Party. Started a contracting job at EDMC that would become the longest month of my life and that’s all I’m going to say. Enjoyed my first ever bowl of Pho. Rocked the Beer on the Bay festival in Erie which the videos are epic and may never be released. End the month being interviewed by KDKA for the Craft Beer Summit.

August
Won a 2009 Mustang! Bees invade our bathroom (landlord still has yet to remove the dead bodies). I got a full-time job in social media/web dev that has turned out to be freaking cool plus I’m on a rockstar team. Threatened Lushie with divorce after she gets rid of the Back to the Future marathon channels.

September
Attended “Best of the Burgh” at the Warhol with sickpuppy, PittGirl, Woy and Rachel. Go big time and hosted Beer School at the Cabaret downtown to a sold out crowd. Teaspoon hits 17lbs.

October
Hosted 2 sessions at Podcamp Pittsburgh 4. Should I Drink That passed 500,000 download mark. Pens start defending the Stanley Cup. Revised Google Maps errors. Celebrate 4 years of marriage with Lushie. Lay the smackdown on poor fact checking by the Post gazette about Erie. Teaspoon goes pumpkin farming.

November
I blogged the whole month. Seriously. Bought a X-box. Teaspoon’s first Thanksgiving. Wonders of fatherhood and a kid who grows like a weed. Craft Beer Dinner with Lew Bryson, Education on the Pittsburgh Potty. Making your own Bacon. BEER AT GIANT EAGLE! Yinz Bowl 2.o

December
Still living it for 5 more hours. Remembering dad on his anniversary. Hosted a Christmas beer sampling at Bocktown. Saw KISS in concert. Teaspoon’s first Christmas. Finished the school year with a 3.65GPA. SNOW!

So what do I have to look forward to in 2010?  Come back tomorrow and find out!

I have to admit that this has been the most life changing year of my life. Some good, some bad and some mind blowing kickass. Here’s a quick recap as I reflect before tonight’s festivities start. I’m splitting this up into 2 sections because lets be honest, no one will scroll through 12 months.

January
Reflected on the first beer I EVER drank and yes, I kept the bottle. Prepare for the end of my 10+ year employment at ForeSystems/Marconi/Ericsson. Bitched about the weather and yinzers inability to drive in snow plus dumb ass snow removal by my neighbors. Both of those still hold true today. Got ready for an unbelievable run to the Super Bowl

February
Steelers won the Super Bowl and became the first ever 6 time champ thus giving every knock off t-shirt maker starry eyes at the potential of “6 pack” shirts. Punxy Phil said 6 more weeks of winter. I was officially laid off, was interviewed for a Post Gazette story on unemployment moments after i was laid off (that never was published), Pens started to turn it around and the biggest shock of them all… Teaspoon arrived 2 months early making me the happiest and most terrified dad. Came in at 4.1lb, dropped to 3.2lb and would leave at 5 in March.

March
It was the month of Teaspoon. Lushie and I spent every minute we could at the Mercy NICU while he got healthy in an incubator. 28 days later he came home. Also witnessed the stupidity of some Hill District parents who think its a hotel in there and the joke that is unemployment system in PA.

April
Went to my first ever Rugby match and got addicted to watching Claire and the girls kick ass. Missed my first opening day of Pirates baseball since 1984 (watched it on TV with Teaspoon and started a new tradition with my boy). Bought a Wii. Enjoyed the greatest comeback in Pens Playoff hockey that I have witnessed as the Pens turned the series around with 1 fight and the Max Talbot shhhhhhh! Saw Beer Wars the Movie with hundreds of other craft beer fans around the world and baked an incredible beer ham for Easter.

May
Should I Drink That turned 3. Pens defeated Washington and Carolina to earn a second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for a 2nd year. Bought a Blackberry. Joined Sadie’s Soldiers and took some Great Strides. KDKA reads my “tweet of the day” which I WISH they would bring back. The great personalized jersey debate. Meatshield welcomed his first child (i swear it was the year for kids to be born) and we had a cookout with some family. Bowling league ended and we were the undisputed champs.

June
Teaspoon’s first trip to the ER. Coming out of golf retirement after 3.5 year for a day with Yinz Teamer’s Woy, Lokay and Shireman at Cranberry Highlands. The Clarks release Restless Days after 5 years. Pens win the Stanley Cup in 7 games vs Detroit. Pittsburgh floods… again. Unemployed Utensil makes his first appearance as a way to help me get through not working. My first Father’s day and Pirates waste of talent Ian Snell cant take negative people.

up next… July through December.

I had a post for today but then this came across twitter and it was too good to not share

You’ve got to make a serious decision…

After I was laid off I was lost. Since high school I was never without a job for more than a couple weeks and all of a sudden I was 33, unemployed, a baby on the way and no clue to what was next. Teaspoon was born 2 months early pushing the whole world into hyperactive mode and me into a tizzy.

While I was driving the back roads of Cranberry one morning, after Teaspoon’s extended stay in the NICU had ended, I heard this song on XM.

Stop! Take some time to think, figure out what’s important to you.
Stop! Take some time to think, figure out what’s important to you.
Stop! Take some time to think, figure out what’s important to you.
You’ve got to make a serious decision.

It was at this moment I knew something needed to change and that set into motion everything which has happened in the last 2 months along with what I have planned in the near future. I love being a father and a husband. This is gonna be fun.

We’ve all been there. You have a secret that you’re dying to share and know you can’t. That has been the last few weeks for me and this CD. Biting my lip and wrapping my head in duct tape is the best way to explain it. Restless Days is the latest release from Pittsburgh’s 20yr+ rock veterans and (I’m not just saying this because it was just released or that I may or may not help out on the site since 2002) is hands down my favorite of their whole collection. Here’s my quick review:

1. “True Believer” starts out rockin that you will find your head boppin and body bouncin.
2. “Inside” does a great job keeping up the pace from “True Believer” and takes you on a 2:53 auditory adventure.
3. “Trampoline” has some of the most memorable one liners that you’ll find yourself singing during the day while you’re working… “I was never your lover and I’m not your trampoline. Never your lover and I’m not your trampoline”  See, Now it’s in your head.  You’re welcome.
   
4. “Midnight Rose” has taken me a few times to get into. Still trying to figure that one out.
   
5. “Soul and Skin” is what old school Clarks fans will enjoy as it took me back to the Someday Maybe CD.
6. “Sunshine” and “Come ‘Round Here” will be a hit for fans of Scott’s solo cd’s and also songs that I find myself singing quite a bit.
   
7. “Restless Days” is going to be a great drinking song with friends. You’re ready to chill and sing together a song that doesn’t make you into a coke’d out monkey.
   
8. “The Clowns” I’m not sure what to make of this one yet. I keep thinking of the Cleveland Browns
   
9. “The Runaway” reminds me of an upbeat jam that I would have expected with Let It Go.
   
10. “In Between” is one of the medium tempo songs that I’ve always been fond of from the band. I think Lushie calls it “cleaning music”. Its what you can listen on repeat and get lost so you don’t realize you’re doing work.
    
11. The CD closes out with what has become a huge hit with Pens fans, “What A Wonderful World.” The full version of this song is even better than the commercial. Suck it Ramones!
    

Pre-sale CDs arrived yesterday to fans and today the general public can purchase it. To find out more and listen to tracks go to clarksonline.com