MY LIFE - 50 For My 50th Day 29: "Marry Me Ann" by The Dickies and other songs about why I married who I did

For an explanation of "50 For My 50th", go here - http://oldermusicgeek.blogspot.com/2013/08/entertainment-50-for-my-50th-50-days-of.html

After I started getting better and improving, I felt ready to date again.

Through Match.com, I met Ann. She was into music. She was cool and relaxed. Also liked movies. And she was an awesome mom.

So after a year and half, we decide to get married. I found this song about a week or so before we were to married. I took it as a good sign!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vn2SencrSL_0ujzefX_Bfc_j-KJhKJzSUTDJi3CiQs8/edit?usp=sharing



A playlist about why I married my wife including The Dickies' "Marry Me Ann":

Click the link below to listen to my monstrosity of a playlist, OlderMusicGeek's 50th B-Day, on Spotify:

http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/1bRKV8LHJIL3JQih1ZSq76

MY LIFE - 50 For My 50th Day 25: "Violet" by Hole and other angry depression songs

For an explanation of "50 For My 50th", go here - http://oldermusicgeek.blogspot.com/2013/08/entertainment-50-for-my-50th-50-days-of.html

Didn't realize I put so many songs about my depression on here. But I guess it and the divorce were the biggest and most traumatic part of my life.

Well, don't worry. We get into the recovery after this!

But one part they don't talk much about in depression is the anger. You do feel sad and lethargic. But there's also anger. Anger from the frustration of being stuck.

So these songs cover that aspect of depression.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vn2SencrSL_0ujzefX_Bfc_j-KJhKJzSUTDJi3CiQs8/edit?usp=sharing



A playlist of angry depression songs including Hole's "Violet":

Click the link below to listen to my monstrosity of a playlist, OlderMusicGeek's 50th B-Day, on Spotify:

http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/1bRKV8LHJIL3JQih1ZSq76

If you see this, you're invited!

If you see this you're invited!

You can find all the info here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vn2SencrSL_0ujzefX_Bfc_j-KJhKJzSUTDJi3CiQs8/edit?usp=sharing

MY LIFE - 50 For My 50th Day 17: "Take Me To The River" by Talking Heads and other tunes about my marriage falling apart.

For an explanation of "50 For My 50th", go here - http://oldermusicgeek.blogspot.com/2013/08/entertainment-50-for-my-50th-50-days-of.html

Well, I stated before, I entered into a marriage that I should have never should have entered.

And it reached a head when my wife went to visit her African home for six months.

I ended up exploring my transgender issues and cheated on my wife.

She wasn't pleased when she found out.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vn2SencrSL_0ujzefX_Bfc_j-KJhKJzSUTDJi3CiQs8/edit?usp=sharing



A playlist of songs about my marriage falling apart including "Take Me To The River":

Click the link below to listen to my monstrosity of a playlist, OlderMusicGeek's 50th B-Day, on Spotify:

http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/1bRKV8LHJIL3JQih1ZSq76

ENTERTAINMENT - Why Violent Femmes' Classic Debut Still Seems So Young, 30 Years Later

And this is why, 30 years later, this is still my all-time favorite album!

Their debut represents more than just the height of the band's commercial success. Although virtually ignored upon its release, the album has since been regarded as emblematic of the teenage experience, youthful frustration pinned and preserved.

Part of the reason the album endures is the music itself: simply constructed songs with sticky melodies, sung by a young man with a conversational delivery and a voice like a fire-truck siren, backed by frenzied bass playing and primal, intuitive drumming. The performances are burning things, alternately spare and spacious, then suddenly taut and rigid and nervous. Things never fall apart, but they continually threaten to. The lyrics are gutting and funny, too: sordid but somehow pleasant teenage confessionals penned by an actual teenager. Even when the words temporarily slip into inanity, the off-kilter vocal performance lifts them, twists them, and lends them an extra edge of weirdness that pushes them back into the personal. "Blister in the Sun," the Femmes' bip-boppin' ode to drugs, "big hands," and nocturnal emissions, is clearly the single of the bunch, but nearly every track is powerful, deranged, and yes, likeable.

http://m.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/04/why-violent-femmes-classic-debut-still-seems-so-young-30-years-later/274991/

MY LIFE - 50 For My 50th Day 10: "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up" by The Violent Femmes and other angry. lonely tunes

For an explanation of "50 For My 50th", go here - http://oldermusicgeek.blogspot.com/2013/08/entertainment-50-for-my-50th-50-days-of.html

Okay, this is the last post about being a sad, lonely nerd.

But the truth isn't I wasn't always sad! Sometimes, I got angry!

Thought life was totally unfair! Wanted to know why life treated me this way. Later, I realized a lot of it had to do more with how I was living life than how life was treating me.

But if any album caught how I was feeling at that time, it was The Violent Femmes' self-titled debut album.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vn2SencrSL_0ujzefX_Bfc_j-KJhKJzSUTDJi3CiQs8/edit?usp=sharing

A playlist of angry nerd songs including "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up":



Click the link below to listen to my monstrosity of a playlist, OlderMusicGeek's 50th B-Day, on Spotify:
http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/1bRKV8LHJIL3JQih1ZSq76

MY LIFE - 50 For My 50th Day 08 - "The Other Way" by Weezer and more songs about how I was a lonely nerd

For an explanation of "50 For My 50th", go here - http://oldermusicgeek.blogspot.com/2013/08/entertainment-50-for-my-50th-50-days-of.html

Being a big nerd, I wasn't exactly what you would call a ladies man. I was much too shy to even approach a girl if I liked her. And couldn't even think that a girl might find me worthwhile.

Yeah, I had self-esteem issues...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vn2SencrSL_0ujzefX_Bfc_j-KJhKJzSUTDJi3CiQs8/edit?usp=sharing



A playlist about being a lonely nerd including "The Other Way":

Click the link below to listen to my monstrosity of a playlist, OlderMusicGeek's 50th B-Day, on Spotify:

http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/1bRKV8LHJIL3JQih1ZSq76

ENTERTAINMENT: Hundreds of John Peel shows for streaming!

For fans disappointed that the online debut of the late John Peel’s record collection didn’t feature actual music off those platters or broadcasts by the legendary British DJ, here’s the real deal: a streaming collection of 458 episodes of Peel’s show, presumably digitized off cassettes, that totals 846 hours and spans the years 1967 to 2004.

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2012/09/11/john-peel-archive-stream-458-shows/

ENTERTAINMENT: 10 rock bands you either hate or love

There are a number of artists who frequently make the “best of” lists but most rational people don’t argue their merit. The Beatles and Led Zeppelin are typically at the top in classic rock, and even their critics don’t place usually place them farther than top 20. Move a little farther down and you’ll find Jimi Hendrix and The Who where most will agree if they’re not the all-time greatest, at least they’re not horrible. Bruce Springsteen may not be everybody’s favorite, but most rock fans appreciate what he does. This list is specifically made up of groups who have a large contingent of rabid supporters, yet they also have a large number of devoted detractors. People are passionate for them, or passionate against them.

http://listverse.com/2010/03/27/10-rock-bands-you-either-hate-or-love/

ENTERTAINMENT: My take on Day 2 of 8035

These are just some things I wrote for Facebook but couldn't manage to get my phone to put them up.


- Ready to rock out on Day 2 of 80/35. And to folk out, bluegrass out, and even jam out. But I'll say one thing, with all this heat and sweat, it's obviously that I'm out!

8035, I love you dearly. But damn, you take a toll on this middle age body!

- One thing I forgot to mention on Facebook on Day 1 was how I was amused when I saw where 80/35 had their headquarters. It was our old GLBT center.

We had got kicked out a couple of months back, and now it was sitting vacant. Last I heard, some of The Center's stuff was still there. I kinda wanted to go in and see, but I didn't!

But I'm on a couple of the committees for The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition, who put on 80/35, so I probably could have gone in. Buti'll ask if anything was still there when we're chatting before the committee meetings start.

- Ready to rock out on Day 2 of 80/35. And to folk out, bluegrass out, and even jam out. But I'll say one thing, with all this heat and sweat, it's obviously that I'm out!

- Arrived at 80/35 just in time! As I got there, the lead singer said, "Hi, welcome to 80/35. I'm Derek Lambert."


Why did I not know about Derek Lambert & The Prairie Fires? A really good local folk rock band that can rock out while keeping the folk roots.

- Checked out Now, Now. Two female guitarists and a drum machine. Pretty bland indie rock.


- Little Ruckus last night at The Vaudeville Mews and today at 80/35 have been the best shows yet! Their shows are experiences, not concerts! Full of fun audience participation! (Long live The Sandwich Eating Crew!)


I have never had such fun messing up my arthritic knee! Little Ruckus totally wore out this middle age man with their fun interactive show.


- Now enjoying the sweet air conditioning of Subway!


- Once again, I'm watching a band from the outside using the big screen. Listening to Grensky Bluegrass. They're pretty good, but kind of mellow for my taste.


- Well, went back to Grensky Bluegrass after catching the end of the Mumford's and checking out Night Moves. (Night Moves didn't move me!) 


But Grensky Bluegrass seem to found their groove and put out some awesome music. Their banjo player and mandolinist were incredible, and the way they played off each other was amazing.


I have to add that the heat isn't keeping the jam band/bluegrass folk from dancing at 80/35!


- Favorite t-shirt I've seen at 80/35: "I've seen bands that don't even exist yet!"


- John Isbell & The 400 Unit was some nice well done roots rock. And he uses an accordion in one song!

- The K-Holes were some interesting hard rock with a nice stage presence in their sexy black clothes!


- Okay, Dan Deacon does some really fun, energetic, pounding electronic dance music. But by performing on street level instead on the stage, he has made sure only people within five feet in front of him could see the performance. Which is too bad, cus it was some of  the best music this weekend. I would have liked to have SEEN the show!


Oh, well, at least it have me a chance to sit and rest. Could hear and see everything just as well that way! 


- Tried to watch Deathcab For Cutie since it's the favorite band of one of my nieces. There were two songs that had a pretty good groove going on. Other than those, they rather bored me.

- Went to After 80/35 party at Vaudeville Mews. Pure Gut with Patrick Fleming of Poison Control Center opened. It featured Ladd Askland, who's usually involved behind the scenes with Des Mounes music. The band, though, was fun and energetic. And Askland has a very interesting stage presence!


But Poison Control Center closed out the night. It seems these guys have been involved in every 80/35! If not in the actual festival, then doing an after party at The Mews! It's just NOT 80/35 without a PCC performance!


And the crowd was hopping! The show was free and the bar was packed. And the front of the audience was bouncing all over the place with plenty of local musicians filling the ranks.


I have to admit that I was rather annoyed cus they didn't do "Magic Circle Symphony"! But after the crowd chanted "One more song!", they closed with it. So we all repeated what Pat Fleming just said! And the stage was stormed with much if the audience singing how love was the answer!


It put a nice big exclamation to the end of 80/35!

ENTERTAINMENT: Some playlists for Father's Day

This is one I made about fathers from the music I had on hand. It's on Spotify.

http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/4i0YMudpnqSYLbUTkAop2g




This playlist features songs that remind me of my daughter. It's also on Spotify.

http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/3Ivvua300DPoKuMbxtPc4A




This is one I found on Songza that I liked...

http://songza.com/listen/parent-child-songza/




This one is good, but didn't wow me. Still I listened to it quite a bit. It's on Last.fm.

http://www.last.fm/listen/globaltags/fathers




This one wasn't too shabby either. It's on Spotify.

http://open.spotify.com/user/1230404841/playlist/5L7uIynZpJNWY3xYLnWl6N

ENTERTAINMENT: Trevor Blendour -"Gonna be a Super Hero" (Music Video)

ENTERTAINMENT: A great description of the Iowa music scene!

http://iowavesmusic.com/2012/04/17/review-2012-gross-domestic-product-iowas-coming-out-party/

ENTERTAINMENT: Punk rock version of a Easter favorite!

ENTERTAINMENT: Awesome version of a Easter song!

On OlderMusicGeek's Stupid Entertainment Stuff: "MUSIC: Song Of The Day - To My Daughter For Her Special Day"

just click the title

ON OLDERMUSICGEEK'S STUPID ENTERTAINMENT STUFF: For Valentine's Day

just click the title

ON OLDERMUSICGEEK'S STUPID ENTERTAINMENT STUFF: "MUSIC: My Quick Thoughts On Yellowbrick Magazine's 8 For 8 Show At People's

ON OLDERMUSICGEEK'S STUPID ENTERTAINMENT STUFF: "MUSIC: Fifteen Albums In Fifteen Minutes You've Heard That Will Always Stick With You"

click on the title

MY LIFE: Trivia Games Of The Mind

I don't know about you, but as I get older, I find my mind playing more and more trivia games with me. And, of course, rude mind that it is – and my mind can be very rude! - it doesn't even ask me if I want to play.

So I was sitting there innocently at work doing quality control on data entry – yes, I know, exciting work. Which is why I have to have my music with me. If I forget my iPod, I take a 9 o'clock lunch to go get it! But that really has nothing to do with our story. Just an exciting tidbit of my exciting life I was throwing at you. I swear, if I wasn't getting a sex change, I'd be one of the most boring people on this planet!

Anyway! I'm at work listening to music, when I was trying to remember some of the punk rock and alternative rock I had on my old hard drive before it died. And for some reason, I remember this song “Last Nite”. I can kind of remember how it goes and some of the lyrics, but I can't remember the name of the band. I know they're The S-something.


Now normally, I would just google this, but our work has a really strict policy about internet usage. Almost any site having remotely to do with social networks is blocked. Even a local TV channel's site is blocked because we were picking up too many viruses from there. Of course, these rules don't stop me from using the internet, just careful about when I do use it.

And I wasn't ready to use it yet. I still had a couple of other resources.

And I turned to one of my cubicle mates. He was one of the trio of trivia experts in our department. I being another, and a data entry tech being the third. The third member of the trio wasn't a huge music fan. He liked well enough and could answer some general music trivia questions, but he wasn't one of the people you go to about music.

Now, my cubicle mate was into music quite a bit. Not as much as me of course, but more than almost everybody in the department. And as I said he was part of the trivia trio in our department.


So I tap his shoulder, he takes off his headphones, and I say, “I need help. I can't remember this name of a band. I know they had a song called “Last Nite” and it's spelled N-I-T-E. And their name starts with an S. They're The S-Something. They're a guitar-oriented alternative band from the 90s.” They're actually from the 00s, but anyway....

Then more information came to me. “And part of the lyrics was 'last nite she said'. And there's something about grandma doesn't know and UFOs don't know. And on their second album they sing something about the end having no end. And they've had 3 albums that I know of.”

“Oh, and I think their first album is called “Last Nite”.” It wasn't. If my mind is going to play trivia games with me, I wish it would play fair with accurate information.

My cubicle mate thought for a while. “Those lyrics sound familiar. Could you sing part of it?”

I smiled. “Um, I could, but you still probably wouldn't recognize it.”

He smiled back. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”

Then he added, “Well, dang, now I want to know who it is.”


Fortunately, I still had another ace up my sleeve. We have a second music fanatic in our department. But don't worry, she's about 25 years younger than me, so there's little overlap between us.

In fact, a couple years back, I was tried to impress her, show her that I didn't just listen to music from my time, the late 70s to mid 80s. I rattled off a bunch of "new" bands i was listening to.

And she said, and I quote... and yes, I can quote her because I'll never forget what she said! “Oh, yeah, the 90s, that was good music. I listen to some of that stuff when I was a kid.”


So anyway, I went to her cube but she wasn't there. So I left a note. Fortunately for once, I thought ahead and let her know what it was about, so she wouldn't worry and wonder why she was being summoned to the quality control cubicle. Figured she'd be a bit annoyed worrying about why the q.c. people to see her and find out it's just to name a band.

Well, I couldn't wait any longer. I broke company rules – shhh! - and looked up the lyrics on the internet. The band's name came right up.

The other music fanatic showed up shortly after that. She was kind of laughing. She asked if we figured it out and said we had, but gave her the information I had anyway.

And right away she said, “The Strokes?”

“Yep. Where were you when we needed you?”

She just smiled and kind of shrugged. And I just kind of shrugged at my slowly deteriorating mind and its stupid trivia games.