I mentioned that for me, the highlight of the Blondie set was probably the song “Atomic.” It’s just a great song. There is a line that goes, “Oh, your hair is beautiful, oh tonight...atomic.” In the not-so-distant past, Shane and I have been known to change words in songs to silly stuff (Remember the Crouton!), and Shane informed me via email that him and Matt have been doing that with “Atomic.” Their ideas cracked me up:
Oh, your square is beautiful, oh tonight, geometric. Oh, your friend is beautiful, oh tonight, platonic. Oh, your strength is beautiful, oh tonight, bionic. Oh, your jew is beautiful, oh tonight, hasidic. Oh, your dome is beautiful, oh tonight, geodesic. Oh, your pain is beautiful, oh tonight, analgesic. Oh, your knowledge is beautiful, oh tonight, pedantic.
So I came up with some, too:
Oh, your cross is beautiful, oh tonight, iconic. Oh, your satire is beautiful, oh tonight, ironic. Oh, your jet is beautiful, oh tonight, supersonic. Oh, your diphthongs are beautiful, oh tonight, hookedonphonics. Oh, your devil is beautiful, oh tonight, demonic. Oh, your memory is beautiful, oh tonight, mnemonic. Oh, your yogurt is beautiful, oh tonight, probiotic. Oh, your cell is beautiful, oh tonight, mitotic. Oh, your plague is beautiful, oh tonight, bubonic.
As I said, this is just super silly stuff, but if you love wordplay, you’ll understand. Maybe you’ll even want to play along! If you can think of some, please leave them in the comments so Shane and Matt and I can get some more laughs.
Oo, I just thought of another one:
Oh, your moron is beautiful, oh tonight, idiotic. Haha! No comments about how that is apropos for this post, okay?
On Tuesday afternoon, it was time to head south to Carmel, Indiana (just north of Indianapolis) for our third and final September concert. It was a little bit overcast, but the temperature was nice enough that we didn’t need jackets. As you can see, Spudboy Shane was ready for the show, sporting his spiffy energy dome. We had an uneventful and pleasant trip—no flat tires for Joan Jetta this time, YAY!—and we listened to Devo and Blondie CDs as we motored along.
Our first stop was for a bite to eat at a Mexican place, Cancun, which was close to the venue. Decent food, very fast service, and mighty tasty margatitas! (Typo intentional...I’m not sure why Matt and I started calling them that. It’s like me and my martoonis.)
Next it was a matter of finding the venue, which we were able to do without too much trouble. This is a new complex called the Center for Performing Arts, and one of the buildings is called The Palladium. That’s where the concert was. Holy cow, what a gorgeous venue! The floors looked like hardwood (although they may have been something easier to take care of...I don’t know), the hall was mainly white with touches of blue, and the box seats rose in three levels on both sides. None of us had been to this venue before, and we were duly impressed. I had gotten us pretty good seats, maybe eight rows back, and even little me was able to see well (although I had to look around the tall guy in front of me). We agreed that we would go back there in a heartbeat. Carmel is a pretty well-to-do city, and it shows in their new arts complex. Very nice!
The show started right on time, and Devo was first. The set was similar to when we saw them in 2010: a few songs from their latest album, and most of the classics. I was super happy when they did one of my all-time favorite Devo songs, one that they didn’t do at the 2010 show: “Going Under.” I don’t know what it is about that song, but I just love it. They also did “Satisfaction,” which they didn’t do in ‘10. So I was pleased to get to hear them do those two songs. The highlights for me were probably “Going Under,” “Uncontrollable Urge,” and “Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA.” UU has the cool moment when they all come to the front of the stage and bounce to the beat. The latter song is nothing less than brilliant, with the first part a bit of a sing-along (“‘Fraid nobody around here comprehends my potato...guess I’m just a spudboy looking for that real tomato”), and then kicking into the second part, with the audience shouting “We shove the poles in hole!” and with spastic keyboards and rockin’ guitar. It’s wild, and it’s always a rave-up.
Let me just say here that people can make fun of the aging band members all they want, but let me tell you something: these guys can kick it. Shane and I have loved them since the ‘70s, when we first saw them on SNL, but we never got to see them live until 2010. We discussed how much they surprised us with their rockitudiness. I was expecting a keyboard-heavy band, and of course, you get a lot of that. They’re Devo, after all. But the drums are heavy and fast (Josh Freese, formerly of Nine Inch Nails and Guns ‘n Roses, does a fantastic job), and so are the guitars. No lie...these guys ROCK HARD.
And let me say again that they always have been subversive. Devo was born out of the Kent State shooting, which was witnessed by founding member Jerry Casale. His and Mark Mothersbaugh’s concept of de-evolution made for some pretty biting satire and social commentary. It’s hard not to look around at what is going on lately, especially in politics, and think, “They were right about it. We ARE devolving.” They were way ahead of their time. They have not stopped the satire, and their latest song is titled “Don’t Roof Rack Me, Bro! (Remember Seamus),” about poor Seamus Romney strapped to roof of the family car. Unfortunately, they didn’t do that song. Maybe next time! I will definitely try to see them whenever they play nearby. This is a band I will never tire of seeing. One of the unsung hero bands of rock and roll, in my opinion. Those of us who have loved them all along have definitely cemented their cult status, but they’re not exactly a household name!
After a brief intermission, Blondie was up next. Debbie came out in a gold lamé trench coat, and still looks fabulous! She sounds great, too. In fact, I’d say that her voice sounded every bit as good as, if not better than, when I saw them twice previously. I haven’t listened to their latest album, “Panic of Girls,” as much as I have their older stuff, so I wasn’t as familiar with those songs. I need to remedy that, because they’re good. They played a nice mix of their hits and their newer stuff, and both were well-received. I would have to say that the highlight for me was “Atomic,” which is odd, because I recall not liking that as much as other songs when it first came out. It’s one of the few songs that has really grown on me over the years, and they do it incredibly well live. There is Clem Burke’s manic drumming (he’s one of the best drummers ever, in my opinion), and then there is the way Debbie’s vocals soar to the line where the audience shouts along with her, “Ohhh your hair is beautiful!” It’s a pretty awesome moment, and I’m smiling as I think about it!
The band sounded fantastic, and an excellent addition is guitarist Tommy Kessler. Very, very good. But as always, Debbie Harry is the focal point. I told Shane that she cracks me up, and it is just so cool, the way she makes these faces...hard to explain, but she was always such an incredibly beautiful woman, but she still has this New York punk attitude. When singing “Rip Her To Shreds,” she can sneer like nobody’s business. Haha! She IS a rock goddess.
So after a couple of hours of great music, dancing, and singing, the show was over. We were hoping that the two bands might join each other onstage, but that was not in the cards. No matter—it was just a great show and so much fun to see two of my all-time favorite bands in one beautiful venue! They were playing one more show in Chicago the following night, and Shane and I both considered heading up for it! But everyone had to work on Thursday, and I think we all needed a bit of a break. But we agreed that we’ll try to see Devo whenever they come around our way. Definitely a fun band to see live.
On the way home, we stopped and got beverages. Coffee for the guys, and a Starbucks energy drink for me. That was a bit of a mistake. It was fun on the way home, because although Ken dozed off, Shane and Matt and I had fun playing air keyboards and singing along to Devo songs. I was more than a little wired, and ended up staying up until after 4 am. Ugh. At least now I know that a Starbucks energy drink will give me a major boost of wide awake energy if I ever need it!
Carry on, Spuds!
Even though we’ve already got two concerts going on in September (Bruce Springsteen at Wrigley Field on the 7th and the Smithereens in Valparaiso on the 22nd), the Palladium in Carmel made me an offer I couldn’t refuse: the double bill of two of my all-time favorites, Blondie and Devo!
In a flash of brilliance, they are billing this as the “Whip It To Shreds” tour. Super clever!
Even though it’s only three days after the Smithereens, this was one that was hard to pass up. Two great ‘80s tastes in one evening! Shane and Matt didn’t decide until recently whether or not they would go, but I guess it was just too sweet a deal for them to refuse, too, so this morning I got up at 6:45 in order to get four tickets when they went on sale at 7 am. Success! When we had lunch yesterday, we were talking about how impressed we were with Devo a couple of years ago, how they just seriously rocked up the joint. (Shane and Matt saw them on a different occasion from when Ken and I—and our friend, Doug—saw them.) You don’t normally think of Devo as playing a rave-up concert, but I’m telling you, it WAS! Shane and Matt and I saw Blondie a few years ago, too (Ken decided to sit that one out, so I think he’ll enjoy seeing them this time), and they also sounded great. What a fun concert that is going to be!
Shane and I were kind of surprised at this venue...neither of us had heard of it! When I was getting tickets, I saw that the B-52s are also playing there, in late August. It’s obviously been built since I lived there in the ‘90s, and it looks like they get some pretty decent and varied shows. I’ll do some further checking and find out more about it. It doesn’t look huge, which will make for an even cooler show.
I think I forgot to mention this, but when we were on vacation, I got a notice that Chris Isaak was also going to be in Indianapolis, at the Murat on November 25th, so I got tickets for that. I think I’ve seen him twice, and Ken has seen him more than once (including before Chris hit it big, when he was playing tiny venues in San Francisco), but it’s been a while since either of us saw him.
So we’ve got a busy fall coming up, at least when it comes to concerts! I wish they were a little more spread out, but we’ll enjoy them all! I have two new goals now: to see one of my ‘90s favorites, The Dandy Warhols (I just missed them in Chicago...we were on the road!), and to see the Stones again. I’m hopeful for both. It’s fun to go to some concerts again. When I lived in Indy, it was pretty much a concert a month, and I saw a lot of great bands. The pickings are slim here in South Bend, but Chicago and Indy are great occasional short trips. Hey, kids...rock and roll...rock on!
I'm out of order (No, YOU'RE out of order! Sorry, couldn't resist.) in these posts, but I don't think I'll disrupt the space-time continuum by posting non-sequentially.
Wednesday night, Cousin Shane and Matt treated me, as a birthday present, to the Blondie concert at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. I drove over to Shane's place, and we headed out from there. It was a fun and fast drive up there, with lots of talk and catching up on things. We didn't have a whole lot of time to spare, so only gambled for about a half an hour. I was bummed to see that there were no $5 blackjack tables, only $10 and up, so I sat at the bar and had a beer and played video blackjack while Shane and Matt played slots. No, I didn't win, but also didn't spend nearly what I'd set aside for gambling, so no harm done. Shane ended up winning about $30 (I think) at slots, so yay, Shane! We grabbed a quick sandwich and then headed to The Venue. I capitalize it because the name of the place is actually The Venue!
The opening band was one called Gorevette out of Detroit, and they were a very pleasant surprise! Essentially a girl band (only the drummer is a guy), these chicks rocked! I was especially impressed with the guitarist, Amy Gore. Shane noted that she reminded him of Brian Setzer, because she was sporting a sort of up-swept do reminiscent of a pompadour, and although I'm not well-versed in guitars, I'm pretty sure she was playing a Gretsch hollow body! Any of my musician friends, please tell me if that's what I think it is. Anyway, she was really good! If I could play guitar, I'd want to be like that. She really rocked. The video I'm posting is the title track from their EP, "Lustfully Yours." I think I'll be ordering that soon. I was really impressed!
Oh, and much to our delight, Shane and I had one of those moments where you look at each other and gasp and say the name of the song. In this case, Gorevette did "What Do I Get?" by the Buzzcocks! Even better, they followed it up with "Good Girls Don't" by the Knack! Yeah, baby! I think most of the rest of their set was originals. I have to say, I was delighted to see such a fun and talented and energetic opening act. They're doing several other dates with Blondie, including on the East coast, so I hope they get some good recognition through playing with such a well-known band. I know they have a new fan in this gal!
While waiting for Blondie to come out, I went out to the lobby and got a couple of beers to bring back. I sat them on the floor in front of my seat (we were on the floor, by the way...great seats!), and Shane and Matt said, "Don't kick the beer, Beth!" They had two big video screens set up on either side of the stage, and you could text to the feed. Shane texted, "Don't kick the beer, Beth!" and we got a chuckle out of that!
Oh, and I didn't kick the beer!
There wasn't a long delay, and the band came out. There was Debbie. This woman is 65 years old, and I'm telling you, if I look that good at 65, I'll be a happy woman! She looked so great! She was wearing this longish white skirt--was that organza, or some such material?--with a big black belt and a black jacket. Her hair was really white, and I think it was a wig. She looked fantastic. Her voice was very strong. Not as strong as in her heyday, but she still can pack a wallop! The band was great, and Clem Burke is as strong a drummer as ever. (Shane and I agree that he is one of rocks unheralded drummers. He's definitely in my top five favorites.) I don't recall the name of the guitarist, a young guy, but we thought he did a fine job. Chris Stein is still with the band, although he and Debbie split up a long time ago.
I'll post the set list when Shane sends it to me, but they did a mixture of their classics as well as songs from their forthcoming album. We liked the new songs, and look forward to hearing more of them. Among the classics, they did "The Hardest Part" (one of my favorites), "One Way or Another," "Hanging on the Telephone," "The Tide is High," "Rapture," "Heart of Glass," "Call Me," and what we all agreed was the highlight of the show for us, "Atomic." Oh man, that song still gives me chills (Shane said hearing it made him verklempt), and her voice was strong and hit those soaring notes just perfectly! She might not have held the notes as long as the original, but it was still perfection. Like buttah.
I apologize for the poor photo quality, and I didn't get any video. They announced before the band came out that there would be no photography or video, but plenty of us were sneaking pics. One downer was having an usher lady sitting just to the left of our row, with her chair FACING us. So during the whole show, I could see her in my peripheral vision, and felt like she was looking at me. She did not look like a happy person, and her constant scowl was rather irritating. A younger person took her place temporarily at one point, and she was bopping and smiling and enjoying the show. The old bat came back soon enough, though, and her main activity seemed to be walking down the aisle and pointing at people taking pictures, so that another usher or security guard could come over and put a stop to it. Of course, while she was away, several of us whipped out our cameras and tried to get a few pictures. Highly effective security. It's time for bands/venues to rethink their policy on pictures and videos. Almost everyone has camera phones, so don't fight it, man.
Yes, I did wear fishnets, although you really can’t tell it in the picture. :) It was a great time, and both Shane and I agreed that this was a better show than when we saw them a few years back. They were also great then, but they just seemed more energetic this time out. Debbie is such a peach, and one of the greatest rock chicks ever! Thanks to Shane and Matt for a wonderful evening. Love you guys!
Here is the set list from Shane! Note #15: that is indeed the Ramones' "Pet Sematary!"
01. D-Day 02. Hanging On The Telephone 03. Will Anything Happen? 04. The Hardest Part 05. Love Doesn't Frighten Me At All 06. The End, The End 07. Maria 08. What I Heard 09. Orchid Club/Atomic 10. The Tide Is High/I'll Take You There 11. Rapture/No Exit 12. Mother 13. Call Me 14. One Way Or Another 15. Pet Sematary 16. Heart Of Glass
No, not really! But Cousin Shane and Matt and I are heading up to Harrah's Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana (that's some good alliteration going on there) to see Blondie Wednesday evening! Shane and I saw Blondie a few years ago in Chicago, and they were fantastic, so I'm thinking this will also be a good show. Deborah Harry is so awesome...I just love her! I've posted this video before, but check it out:
When that video came out, Shane and our friend Steve said that I look like Debbie in the video. That was back in my überskinny punk days. I won't be wearing an outfit like that, but I'm thinking there will be fishnets involved! I hope to get some pictures and maybe video of the show. Of course, I still haven't got my Devo pics and vids up yet, so I'm well behind the curve.
Oh, and since it's at a casino, we might have time to gamble a little bit. Yippee! What a coincidence that I happen to already have a Harrah's rewards card all ready to go, from the last time I was in Vegas? I'm looking forward to some blackjack, but only if they have $5 tables. I don't plan on spending a whole lot, and it can disappear awfully quick at a $10 table! If they don't have $5 blackjack, I'll do video poker.
Before I forget, I wanted to put up that quote again and tell you who said it.
Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith . . . we need believing people.
I only got one guess. If you guys don't start playing nice, I just might take my blog and go home. [pout] Aww, it's okay. I still love yas! Stan googled it to find out, but Alaina guessed Strom Thurmond. I think you'll find that as amusing as I did when I tell you that it was Adolf Hitler who said that! It was April 26, 1933, from a speech made during negotiations leading to the Nazi-Vatican Concordant of 1933. The Vatican?! D'oh! Ol' Strom certainly had his own issues with race, though, didn't he?
Anyway, I think that quote shows that Hitler was far from an atheist. There are many other quotes that show that he espoused many religious sentiments. Secular schools aren't to be merely tolerated. They are to be encouraged, and indeed, our national law says that is the only way public schools should be. There is great danger in blurring the line between church and government. If people want to send their kids to a religious school, that is their choice. But all public schools should leave religion out of it.
Coming soon: the Devo review, a Blondie review, and a review of a documentary I watched over the past couple of nights, Ben Stein's "Expelled." Sorry I'm so behind!
It appears that I shot my wad yesterday with the long entry about vaccine production, and I'm a little tapped out today. I hope you'll join me in watching one of my favorite Blondie songs, "(I'm Always Touched By Your Presence) Dear," from their album "Plastic Letters." I think it's a beautiful song, with wonderful lyrics. The line "levitating lovers in the secret stratosphere" is one that I've always loved.
Blondie is considered a punk/New Wave band, and I think a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that such bands were all like the Sex Pistols, loud, crude, and sort of insane. While I definitely enjoy such bands, many of the artists from that era and genre had true talent and musical skill. Deborah Harry could tear it up as well as the rest of them, but this song is…well, I think it’s lovely.
Note Clem Burke's mad skillz as drummer...Cousin Shane and I have always thought he was under-appreciated. Enjoy!
(I'm Always Touched By Your Presence) Dear
Was it destiny? I don't know yet. Was it just by chance? Could this be Kismet?
Something in my consciousness told me you'd appear, now I'm always touched by your presence, dear.
When we play at cards you use an extra sense. (It's really not cheating) You can read my hand, I've got no defense. When you sent your messages whispered loud and clear, I am always touched by your presence, dear.
Floating pass the evidence of possibilities. We could navigate together, psychic frequencies. Coming into contact with outer entities. We could entertain each one with our theosophies.
Stay awake at night and count your R.E.M.'s
when you're talking with your super friends.
Levitating lovers in the secret stratosphere. I am still in touch with your presence, dear. I am still in touch with your presence, dear. I am still in touch with your presence, dear, dear, dear, dear, dear.
We're having a big warm-up here at Nutwood, and it is very welcome! This is a picture from June of last year, and I can hardly wait for it to be this lush and green!
I went out today to take the covers off of the patio furniture and put the cushions on. I was successful with the tête-à-tête chair, but Ken had stacked the table on top of the chairs, and I couldn't lift it off. I'll ask him to do that when he gets home, and tomorrow I'll put on the cushions. I want to have those chairs ready, because I want to sit out on the deck tomorrow and soak up some sun! They're talking 80°, and I feel that I am lacking in Vitamin D! It was still a little too cool to sit outside today, and the tête-à-tête is underneath the overhang, so it would have been too chilly in the shade. Tomorrow sounds great, and the weekend should also be nice. I think it might finally be time to switch out my summer and winter clothes. Yay!
I've just been puttering today. Filled the bird feeders, entered a few more phenology records (and will do more in a moment), and had an interesting email exchange with a friend. The details don't matter, but it was definitely an interesting exchange!
When I was taking the cover off of the table and chairs, I saw that something had ripped it to shreds. I'm guessing a raccoon. It wasn't entirely destroyed, but there are big enough holes that I don't think it will offer much protection next winter. I was irritated, but it made me think of the great Blondie song! Shane and I got to see one of our favorite punk/new wave bands when we saw Blondie at the Riviera in Chicago several years ago. I think this video was from the same tour. Debbie rocks! "Yeah, you know her, won't you look at that hair? Yeah, you know her...she's so dull...rip her to shreds!"
I mentioned that for me, the highlight of the Blondie set was probably the song “Atomic.” It’s just a great song. There is a line that goes, “Oh, your hair is beautiful, oh tonight...atomic.” In the not-so-distant past, Shane and I have been known to change words in songs to silly stuff (Remember the Crouton!), and Shane informed me via email that him and Matt have been doing that with “Atomic.” Their ideas cracked me up: 
