The ConstruKction of Light

I recently purchased a copy of The ConstruKction of Light by King Crimson, and I had to say something. This band has been around a long time and have disappeared from the radar for years at a time, only to re-emerge in a new form with a new album. The music is very left brained and mathematical, yet it always evokes strong emotions. There are songs that make me feel like I’m floating weightlessly in ethereal bliss, and there are songs that make me feel like I am smashing a stone wall with a 2 ton hammer. I welcome it all with open arms, and not too many artists can illicit such a response from me. King Crimson does though, and they do it over and over again. As the years bathe them in wisdom and skill, they continue to take their music a step further. Their last 2 albums, “The Power to Believe” and “The ConstruKction of Light” are awesome. There are a few moments on both albums that leave me underwhelmed and wanting something better, but without fail, the next moment arrivesm and I am lost in a sea of goosebumps and shudders. King Crimson have a knack for mixing math and art, science and emotion, love and hate, and life and death and creating a landscape of chaotic order which lifts me up and forces me to see the unobstructed magnificence of everything.

In other words: King Crimson rules

Endangered Scene

Last Friday night, my darlin wife and I headed out on the town with some dear friends. First of all, we had a blast. Q works her fingers to the bone day after day and deserves more than anyone to let her hair down now and again. We hit the scene around 10 and started off by going to a place that used to be an old hole in the wall that had live music, I personally have played there probably 30 times and even on the slowest of nights I had a blast. They closed that place down a while back, remodeled and opened it up as a new club. There isn't even a speck of the old place left. It was completely gutted and rebuilt, and I must say it looks awesome. In the old days, you could find many familiar faces; young folks and old folks and people that represent this fine city. This weekend I recognized no one; the club was populated with hundreds of 21-25 year old hipsters from the local university that moved in and took over. The placed looked great, but it made me sad.
So we finished our beers and went to Georges which is just down the street. There they were....all the familiar faces, I was relieved and stoked. Georges is the last stronghold of what was once a great center of live music and entertainment. One by one the good old places are closing down, and reopening for someone elses enjoyment, all in the name of "progress". We stayed out til the wee hours of the morning and had tons-o-fun.
Thanks Georges.

Hardcore

I've been having a blast listening to the music I used to dig back in the day. I recently added Soundgarden "Badmotorfinger" and Primus "Tales from the Punchbowl" to my collection, but while I was searching, I spotted some old favorites that inspired me to scour my memories and write a list of music I need to get my hands (ears) on.

DRI-Dealing with it
Corrosion of Conformity-Animosity
SOD- Speak English or Die
Slayer-Hell Awaits
Metallica-Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets
Destruction-Infernal Overkill
Celtic Frost- Morbid Tales
Possessed- Seven Churches

Now I'll print this out and stick it in my wallet for future reference.

2005!

Man… I just had an awesome vacation!
It’s over now of course, but I’m refreshed and ready to kick some major 2005 butt. Christmas was awesome. I could elaborate extensively, but instead I’ll just say that nothing compares to being with your children on Christmas morning. The kids were super good and beautiful and excited and happy. As we entered the living room Christmas morning, my 16 month old Buddyman hollered “Wowweeeeeee!” with 100% natural unadulterated glee.

We did a whole lot of visiting before Christmas, then a whole lot of not much after Christmas.
On New Years Eve, we packed up and headed to Devils Den. We had a cool old cabin in the woods, and our “real-life” neighbors had a cabin nearby. It was fun, and a good way to top off an already rad vacation.

Here are some vacation statistics:
Vacation Days: 16
Funniest Movie watched: Napoleon Dynamite
Favorite gift received: a kick-butt hat for when its freezing cold outside
Hours spent working: 0
Hours spent smiling: 100
Hours that I thought I was smiling but really wasn’t because my face hurt from smiling too much: 236
Hours spent shopping: 8
Number of visitors to our house: 12
Lowest temperature: 6°
Highest temperature: 68°
Most unfortunate disaster: Tsunami
Most consumed beverage: beer