Snow Time

This year was the first time in the eternity of my 21 year history that I went out and purchased a season pass for Mt. Hood Meadows to roll the dice in hopes of an excellent season. As most of you know my luck in most things has carried over into the gamble I had made for a year of good conditions and no crazy road closures that would completely destroy a perfectly good snow season. When highway 35 was washed out, blown up, and buried under tons of debris leaving both ways to access this resort blocked, I was sure that this was another chapter in the story of my unlucky breaks. Instead, this disaster moved into the chapter on delayed gratification accompanied by small frustrations, when all forms of government finally earned my tax dollars by getting this catastrophe taken care of. HWY 35 is now scheduled to reopen on the 15th of December to a mountain full of excellent show and four weeks of my winter break to roam the slopes as I see fit. I knew buying a season pass was testing the fates and the fates threw me quite a blow, but I guess the powers that be just wanted me to savor the time that I had. I plan on getting to the mountain at least six times over this winter break so if any of you will be in Portland and want some company on the slopes all you have to say is when.

Hellogoodbye Show and Me Showing my Age

Hellogoodbye plays one hell of a good show. It was awesome. I highly suggest giving them a listen and catching them when they come into town, and if that town is Portland you should give me a ring because for sure I will already have my tickets and the night planned to a tee. Cute is What We Aim For was also very good. They also had some awesome stage presence and really got the crowd into it, and I could say the same for Dave Melillo. The whole show was excellent except for Reggie and the Full Effect, which made me want to vomit just so I could concentrate on something else.This all started out as a concert recap but I think this will be the time to comment on what I have noticed at all these events, I am old. I go to these concerts and I find that I am getting closer in age to the parents accompanying their children than the median age of the crowd as a whole. I swear I am older than 90 percent of people there. Most of the people I hang out with listen to about the same music as I do or at least a few of the bands they will know and enjoy, but where are they at these shows? Something needs to change because I am sick of the girly squeals, the middle school saliva swap for the duration of “their song” that gives the true feel of their three week relationship that will last the length of the current bands CD, and the group of 13-year-old boys are trying so hard to be cool in their band attire and studded belts at the show. It just reminds you of how happy I me to no longer in secondary education and to be free of all those insecurities that drive this insanity. I guess I could just take refuge in the 21-or-older section of the show, but what is the fun in that. If I wanted to sit back and listen to music I would do it in the comfort of my own room with cheaper beer and no fee at the door. I guess I will just have to learn how to deal with these problems that plague our society because lashing out at these youth would be counter productive, because soon they will be just like me. So I guess I will just have to wait for these bands to age and move into different venues that will not let little ones in to ruin a good vibe, but at the same time are they part of the vibe? I guess this is a conundrum for which I will find no answer, and I do no think there is one. It will not slow me down but recruiting some friends to try and offset this youthful average might make my frustration be bearable. So let me know if you would like to join, as of now the next shows I plan to attend are The Shins and the Cartel show so drop me a line.

Concert Review 4/20/06

Well on this glorious day I had another chance to catch Rooney in concert. They came as part of the Fun Fun Fun Tour which had Ben Lee headlining and John Ralston opening up the show with Rooney right their in a band sandwich.
John Ralston opened up the show almost right at the 8:00 start time which was quite impressive. After they got all their sounds tweaked right though trial and error during the first two songs, I was actually pleasantly surprised by them. They had a very mellow sort of feel with the acoustic guitar leading the way but they also were able to get it going on some quicker paced songs. The lyrics were enticing and blended well with their caliber of play. Not much stage presence I would have to say, but they can pull it off as an opener, and it might have improved had any of us in the crowd had even known who they were.
Rooney, as always, rocked my sox off. I am really excited for their new album which they played much of over the course of the show and some when I saw them in Eugene. Rooney played a shockingly long set for a middle band, which was excellent for me because they were the main reason I even showed my face among the 13-year-old screaming girls who populated the floor and ruptured ear drums with their sheer pitch.
The only draw back, that was apparent, was the crowd. People were having a hard time getting into it. When I saw Rooney in the Euge it was a totally different story. The tour that passed though the Euge was also very different; it was in everyway set up as a rock show with the opening band being on the verge of punk. The show in Ptown was more geared for an audience with an ear for acoustics and spectators leaving with the idea that they may have had the speakers up a bit too loud.
I did not even stay to see Ben Lee because it was getting late and I really did not have too much interest anyway. This decision I might later come to regret but I did not when I was up at 5:00 am the next morning leaving for work. I hate missing a band that I shelled out my hard earned cash to see but staying would have affected my ability to make more of that cash, so I considered it a decent exchange. So what this all boils down to is; I recommend John Ralston for a good listen on a rainy day or for some homework/study time, and Rooney’s new album will be very good and I suggest that you find some way to come in contact with it.

It Has Been Forever!

Well all the other times I have written that it has been a while has not compared to the time this post and the one previous. So much has happened I do not think I can do a regular post until I give all my alienated readers an update which they may find interesting or maybe not.
I will start with my new school. I am not all that impressed with Portland State University as of so far. It is very much the same as OSU in many aspects. Every class has the annoying know-it-all student who really does not know anything and tries to manipulate the conversation on to something that they can babble about without ever making a point or speaking about anything of value, during this time I would just be sketching pictures of me mutilating said student in a variety of different ways between me placing my head on the desk because I can not take the stupidity any longer. I am just taking all the last of my 100 and 200 level classes so this should be expected. I will hold my final judgment until the midway point of next term so I can experience 300 and 400 level classes and professors in their prime focus on the intricacies of the specific course I would be in.
Also since my last post I have turned the big 21. Yes, yes the day came and went with little excitement and even less drinking. I had a midterm the following morning at 8 a.m. and so drinking was really out of the question. I have still yet to get shit faced legally. I am just waiting for friends to hit the big day so we can all head out to the bars and see what advantages being 21 can bring. I know there are really few, but I especially enjoy the idea that I can go into whatever location I wish, and no one can tell me anything different. When I had the restriction of being 20 over my head nothing pissed me off more than looking at a sign that said I must be 21 or older. I was paying my rent and my bills, going to school, and working the rest of the free time I had the whole while I was not even old enough to walk into a bar. I guess now the point has no need to be argued but a new generation can use my line of reasoning to rant about the tyranny inherent in the system system.
With some more breaking news, I will finally be free of my mother in the next few days. She will no longer have any fiscal ties over me that let her attempt to manipulate any portion of my life. For those of you who have not experienced the wonder that is my mother, this turn of events is a good thing. Also, since she has gone and sued my father she has alienated our entire family. This all means I will no longer have to deal with her at family functions which have usually ended in a drunken scene and uncomfortable conversation. I am very satisfied that I no longer have to worry about slurred threats of being put back into the womb and the crying followed by family wide awkward conversation for the rest of the night, not to mention the jokes that will now flow freely for in every birthday to come.
Well I plan on writing a new post two to three times a week attempting to get back into the swing of things. I am hoping that I can be ranting and raving with the best of them in no time at all. I know I will not regain all of my three readers back with one recap post, but I hope in time you all will learn to trust me again. Just give me another chance. I hope I do not seem needy.