White Wedding - Rebel NYC 7/30/09 New York City

"Thats Not a Moon, Thats a Space Station"
Rebel is also home to West 30th street's only sedentary Disco Ball.



Rebel has a very adequate sound system and tasty lighting rig. Whomever was doing the lighting knew the tunes and Lit accordingly. Thanks very much, I enjoyed my own Private Planetarium/Gigging Biscuit Experience.



Weeknight,Quick Gig,Ate at Home.

Triscuits,Cracker Barrel Aged Reserve White Cheddar and a 20 ounce Coke with a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup for afters.

SO GOOD IT'S ALMOST FOOD!!!

Silver Star Restaurant Lunch Special - 7/25/09 Brooklyn, New York

Silver Star Chinese Restaurant a mainstay of my misspent youth.



We Have Golden Arch for You.



Heres where the fun starts. Proper Wonton Soup (Wonton Broth NOT Chicken Broth,Bok Choy {thanks Joe} NOT Diced Scallions,Pork Medallions and Plump Wontons) flanked by House Mustard,House Duck Sauce and Crispy Noodles.



And the Toppermost of the Poppermost, Roast Pork Chow Mein a la 70s style, the Vegetables should be undiscernable and resemble a gooey substance, hued mucous green (Bet that makes your mouth water) with a velvety consistency. This style of Chow Mein has all but dissappeared from Brooklyn chinese dining (modern style has clearly discernable Veggies) and was a pleasant surprise as even Silver Star went the common modern Chow Mein route years ago but thankfully have reconsidered such foolishness, Guess I'm not the only Foodie out there that prefers the Dessicated style. Thanks for the Meal Frank. 6221 18th avenue while you still can.

Long Live Brooklyn 1970s Chow Mein. Like KISS, QUEEN and JUDAS PRIEST, It Dont Get No Heavier.

Prized Possessions - QUEEN Autographs

From Myspace Blog 1/26/08 and hastily composed too.

MEETING QUEEN IN 1982 -

Yes, i will never forget meeting QUEEN. they were in town for 3 nights at Madison Square Garden on the "Hot Space" tour. Roger was on a local news program "Live at five" the day before and the reporter mentioned the in-store at Crazy Eddies.
I was one of the first people down there (around 10 a.m.) and hours later QUEEN arrived and got out of their cream coloured limo to much applause from us.
Brian raised his fist in the air to show approval. Very Cool to my 16 year old mind (actually still cool)

As we made our way to the room upstairs (complete with video monitors,TVs in those days playing "Queen's Greatest Flix") the staff informed us that we were only allowed one autograph per person!!! WHAT TO DO?
Brian is my favorite but even then I knew Freddie would be the toughest one to get a signature from in the grand scheme of things.

I placed my plain piece of copy paper in front of Freddie and he signed it (I didnt say anything, I was very shy and a bit starstruck). Next John asks me very nicely "would you like me to sign this?" I probably nodded yes and he did. On to Roger (who wound up being very cool) and by this time I got some courage up. I mumbled "I saw you on live at five yesterday" to which Roger replied "sorry" he didnt quite catch what I was saying and to a New Yorker's ears "sorry" was quite exotic and British compared to the typical "excuse me". I repeated myself and Rog told me "I was bloody tired" (mind you he said it very good naturedly). Finally on to Brian to whom I mumbled "Your my favorite guitar player" But alas he didnt hear me (also how many times has he heard that!!!) and I went on my way totally satisfied that I got all four signatures and met the band.

I distinctly remember having one last look back at the band sitting there and thinking "WOW Its QUEEN"

I did take some photos that day but lost them years ago. Im sure they will turn up some day,one day.

White Wedding - Dive Bar/Althea's Birthday Bash - 7/18/09 New York City

Having a receptive and actively mobile (spelled Dancing) audience is infectious to any gigging band and thats precisely what we got at the Dive Bar for Althea's birthday celebration pleasing us and enhancing our own playing abilities as individuals and a unit, I cant see much from my vantage point but boy did I hear it. Always a pleasure to perform for an energetic crowd.



After the gig I sampled some Delicious Chicken Fingers, they were Chickeny and they were Fingery
nice Honey Mustard Sauce too. Thanks Taylor for being a lovely and attentive host.

Studio Square Beer Garden - Sangria in the Summertime 7/12/09 Queens,New York

Some folks like a nice cold Beer and some folks like a nice cold Soda yet others like a nice cold Sangria during the summer months (or for that matter all year round) pictured above is a Sangria pitcher from Beer Garden in Queens but you can also make this refreshing concoction to enjoy in the privacy of your own bungalow. there are no rules to what you can add to the mix,heres my humble yet potent recipe. Thanks Joe

Cabernet Sauvignon Wine
Triple Sec (to taste)
Sliced Orange,Lemon and Lime
Diced Apple

Let stand overnight.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Annex - 7/5/09 New York City

New Yorks' Rock and Roll hall of fame annex in trendy Soho while smaller than Cleveland's large display area still retains the diversity and respect the music deserves. You are led from an atmospheric and cutely entertaining holding area to view an excellent film encapsulating the history of modern music (concert lighting accentuates the video images) and then to an "In Headphones" touring experience (raised my volume level to 11 and they were thankfully LOUD enough) culminating to the main exhibit hall. I was fortunate enough to see the John Lennon exhibit which like Cleveland's Springsteen exhibit was very tastefully executed.





What's up with the baggy jeans Fatso?



I went with a couple of friends to pay one last visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex on the very last day of operations (1/3/10) and decided to attempt to snap a pic(k) of Beck-O's Stratocaster of which I was successful. Sad to see you guys go but thanks for the ride just the same.

Salchipapas - Planet Chicken Dunellen,New Jersey 7/3/09

(L to R) Fried Potatoes, Fried Hot Dogs, Salad a la papas flanked by flavorful dipping sauces. And no thats not cheese on the lettuce (DAMMITT!!!) its shredded Carrots.

Prices have increased but still worth the five bucks admission fee.

White Wedding - Adventureland Amusement Park 7/4/09 Long Island,New York

Not only did we get a chance to perform for an all ages family crowd on the Fourth of July but were also asked to supply ourselves for our very first "meet and greet" and special thanks to the four patrons who did. It was a pleasure performing at Adventureland in the shade of the rollercoaster and adding to the already festive atmosphere with some Rockin' 80s Tunes.

Thanks for taking care of us Sonny.



Pre-gig I just had to have a Cheeseburger from Roy Rogers (It must be 20 years since now) and boy was that a disappointment, Average fries and the smallest $8.55 Burger I have yet to see, I had mine with Horseradish which was kinda spicytastycoolioroni though. However, with such a paltry Burger weight next time make mine a Quadruple.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - 6/24/09 Cleveland,Ohio

A trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum comes very highly reccomended to anyone who is musically minded. I hold my own reservations about the organization itself considering that such groundbreaking and influential artists (CAN,Alice Cooper,T. Rex,Electric Light Orchestra,Rush,KISS) will probably never receive an induction but once you are actually viewing the exhibits the realization comes through that this is a museum dedicated to Rock Music and that cant be bad at all.

Very tastefully done with respect paid to all genres across the board, Next Stop the New York annex.

White Wedding - DJ Riders 6/13/09 Long Island,New York

Aside from the drummer starting the opening cadence and for that matter the whole first verse of "Walking on Sunshine" with a completely alien drum pattern in the wrong time signature it was bizness as usual for the newly christened White Wedding (formerly of and was the Airwaves) However my Horrific commute was a different matter altogether.



Puppet show, Spinal Tap

Special thanks to Darcy for being a considerate sound technician and very professional Indeed.

The Joe Franklin's - 6/6/09 Three Jolly Pigeons, Brooklyn NYC

A Great time was had by all (especially Chris) at this classic old school Irish pub as the Joe Franklin's, Box of Crayons and Baby Daddy graced the corner (pronounced stage) by the Dr. Who T.A.R.D.I.S. restroom and peeled off tune after tune pleasing the crowd and getting a drunk girl so crazed with wild abandonment resulting in her ejection from the premises.

Thanks to Baby Daddy and Box of Crayons for inviting us and holding these shindigs from time to time. Cant wait for the next one.

Star Trek For The Next Generation.

FIVE STARS, A WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Insanity In Food:Chicken Chow Mein Sandwich

AS served up at the ORIGINAL NATHAN'S FLAGSHIP/STRONGHOLD EATERY STAND RIGHT OFF THE BOARDWALK.
(Established 1916) CONEY ISLAND,BROOKLYN NYC. (Bragging,.... yes)

Classic "Gooey" style 1950's American Chow Mein.
Topped with 1950's style American Crispy Noodles.
ON A SESAME SEED BUN.
Dreadful!!!
Yet Tons of Fun.

Needs some Soy Sauce in my humble opinion,
I drink the stuff meself though.
mmmmm, salty

From The Airwaves:Virgin Megastore 5/7/09

It was a Fabulous 80s Drenched evening performing at the "Last Instore/Virgin Union Square" and for me especially twas' a very moving ('ceptin my less than kinetic right hand which was in fear of dropping the stick for the first half of the show but thats nitpicking innitt?) and fitting showcase playing in the cafe of my Beloved, Long Standing place of employment the Now waning and Very Soon to be Defunct CD shoppe and DVD space Virgin Megastore.

A Truly Festival atmosphere accompanied us as the Virgin staff all played our little Rock and Roll hearts out to a receptive crowd of employees,wander inners and neighborhood folk (not to mention someone dressed as a space alien) mourning the passing of the Megastore and the ushering in of yet more clothing stores very possibly, or frightful the thought.
A Mega Nasal Inhaler Emporium!!!
(no offense to decongestant users please)

A Success? Indeed.

A fitting Instore to end music retail as we currently know it.

Music Is From The Heart,
Give The Gift Of Music.
and most of all
ROCK IT OUT!!!

The Virgin Megastore Is Dead, Long Live the Virgin Megastore.

The Last Instore

From The Airwaves:Red Star 4/25/09

We had a great evening performing with Lyxx and rocking the house upstairs at Red Star's music room. Lyxx members did us the honor of supplying backing vocals for "Smoking in the Boy's Room" and "We're Not Gonna Take It" Material Girl was there one minute and then completely obscured (at least from my vantage point) by Ass-Kickin', Fist Pounding, Metal Madness and quite a wealth of Hair. I've had a similar experience myself (being obscured that is) but that involved a smoke machine strategically positioned right behind my hi-hat pedal.

My Absolute certain game plan earlier that Saturday afternoon much to the annoyance (I'm sure) of my fellow co-workers Due to my pre-pontificating was to dine on some homeade Pierogies before the gig (Like Darling Nikki said "When In Rome") being in Greenpoint "Home Of The Brooklyn Pierogie". Due to navigational difficulties on my part SPELLED "got off at the wrong stop!!!"

My Pierogie time was vanquished.



So I had a few Pints of Shock Top Belgian White with orange, Some may say not as filling as a fluffy potato packed Pierogie but certainly wetter on the palate.

DAMMITT I WANT MY PIEROGIES!!!

Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott's

I cannot sing the praises of this performance highly enough.
To call these players Brilliant is an understatement to say the least.
Anyone know where to get a good Knish around here?

I actually had to physically stop the DVD from tracking to take a quick breather from the Glory Of It All (O.K. Enough Tag Lines) but used my time wisely and checked out Jeff's induction into the Rock and Roll hall of fame 2008 over there yonder on youtube.

Jeff seems to keep improving and growing with age unlike well.... Everyone Else out there!!!
Your just not supposed to be able to play such complex figures this clean on the guitar with this level of precision and beauty.
The microtones he produces at the end of "Angels (Footsteps)" with his bottleneck is jaw dropping. And where did Tal Wilkenfeld conjure from? This 21 year old female Bass Virtuoso appears to have mastered the instrument, just take as an example Tal's bass lead in "Cause We've Ended as Lovers". Take it and Beg for more.

Both the CD and DVD come highly reccomended but the DVD has six more tracks and you get to see this Incredible band at work. Vinnie Colauita and Jason Rebello aint too shabby as the backing band either. THE BASTARDS!!!

Fibbed By Food:Heluva Good? More Like Heluva Gyp!!!

Goes down Mild NOT Extra Sharp.

Certainly not the worst Mild Equeffecciencies disguising themselves as Extra Sharp Cheddar that I have had the Fantastically Great Displeasures to have Imbibed!!! This is marked "EXTRA SHARP" but properly should be entwined in the "MILD" garden surrounding said sissy and sissy gurl department (Apologies for the {"'s} never mind the sissie's)

I can only Imagine what their Mild Cheddar Tastes like..... Muenster Cheese?
(Got Mine 2 for $4, How Dare I Complain)

*****-Very Highly Reccommended

Phil Spector Convicted

We Love Your Music, To bad you couldnt keep the guns out of your life.

Psychedelicism In Food:Freakies Cereal

I have no recollection of what it Tasted like but certainly recall Digging my Free "Freakie" out of the Cereal box. Just who was this Breakfast anomaly marketed towards? (This Must have been 1972/3) Could this be the world's first Hippie Breakfast Food? Did this ever grace president Nixon's Breakfast ballroom? Was there any consternation that Freakies Cereal was produced by the Ralston-Purina Group famously known as manufacturers of Cat Food? Fond Memories Indeed.

Lion In A Sidecar

FROM THE AIRWAVES:Shenanigan's/June's Birthday Bash 3/21/09

It was our pleasure to perform at June's birthday bash held at Shenanigan's in Bay Ridge,Brooklyn. Birthday girl performed a rousing rendition of "Walking on Sunshine" with the band (and a fine job she did as well)

Our new male lead singer Ferris had the crowd up and by the second set dancing with frenzy and 80's abandonment as the drinks flowed and the tunes kept on coming as we so like to do in our own special way. Thanks everyone for coming down and dressing in 80s style and fashion making it a truly colorful evening.



Pre-gig I sauntered across the street with Diamond Dave for a good old fashioned slice of Brooklyn Pizza at Buon Gusto brick oven Pizza and Restaurant which I had been eyeballing since our last Shenanigan's gig and they certainly delivered their promise of Cheese+Sauce+Dough=happy 80s band member. Nothing outstanding to say but nothing negative as well, this slice gets 3 stars. They did have some nice looking specialty slices (a la Vodka slice anyone?) but its always good to begin with the standard "slice" and branch out from there even in the face of a wide array of FOODish temptation.

I Laughed, I Cried And Then I Read The Book:Bill Bruford, The Autobiography

Acerbic wit jumps out from the page at you. Thrill to stories concerning Chris Squire's tardiness, Be taken aback that Mr. Bruford actually bravely ended his tenure with The Almighty Crim, Savor the knowledge in hushed tones concerning the elusive "He Who Could Give Them Life"

(Actually Mr. Bruford does not come across as "acerbic" at all, the word just sounds fitting before "wit")

Bill Bruford has written a Fabulously Marvelous Terrific and Thoroughly enjoyable autobiography from his very unique standpoint in the annals of Prog Rock and his wit (acerbic or otherwise) shines through within every sentence (O.K most of them) you will be hard pressed to keep a smile off your face (That is of course unless your not already saying Bill Who???.........) or are reading this first and easily annoyed by amateurish "I cant even call it a review" on some weirdos blog. I'm Loving this book!!! *****

High Fidelity ll:Scary Looking Caucasians

Come drink the Nectar of forgetfullness, You can trust us. Just Believe.

THE CHEESE CONEY, Long May She Wave