Liberals and Conservatives

A friend sent me this quote from his iGoogle page today:

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt

FDR fancied himself a progressive, so I'm not surprised that he'd say something like that. I, on the other hand, am libertarian to the core. As such, I propose the following revision:

Liberals and conservatives are men with a perfectly good Constitution who, however, have decided to ignore it completely.

Bands I've Seen Live

I've been thinking for quite some time about trying to compile a list of all the bands I've seen live over the years. I'll put these in order as much as possible. I plan to keep adding to this as I recall past shows and attend more in the future. I have a ticket stub book, so I'll include the dates and other details for those I have. Some of these are special in that the bands have since split up, are no longer touring, and/or some members have passed away. You can find videos from a lot of these shows on my YouTube channel. Here we go:

1. Hum with Mercury Rev - Monday, February 5, 1996 @ Will Rogers Theater in Oklahoma City, OK
2. The Flaming Lips - Sunday, May 26, 1996 @ Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, OK
3. Social Distortion - Tuesday, November 19, 1996 @ Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, OK
4. Smashing Pumpkins with Garbage - Saturday, November 23, 1996 @ Myriad Arena in Oklahoma City, OK
5. Cibo Matto - Tuesday, February 25, 1997 @ Bricktown Live in Oklahoma City, OK
6. Earth Crisis
   
7. Beck with The Roots & Atari Teenage Riot - Wednesday, April 16, 1997 @ Fairgrounds T&T Building in Oklahoma City, OK
8. Coal Chamber with Sevendust - Wednesday, February 11, 1998 @ The Edge in Oklahoma City, OK
9. Page & Plant - Thursday, June 4, 1998 @ Myriad Arena in Oklahoma City, OK
10. The Crystal Method - Wednesday, August 26, 1998 @ Will Rogers Theater in Oklahoma City, OK
11. Korn with Ice Cube & Limp Bizkit (Family Values Tour) - Tuesday, October 20, 1998 @ Fairgrounds Arena in Oklahoma City, OK
12. Steve Miller Band with George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Saturday, August 21, 1999 @ State Fair Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK
13. MXPX - Friday, May 5, 2000 @ Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, OK
14. The Who (while John Entwistle was still alive) - Tuesday, August 29, 2000 @ Woodlands Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX
15. Violent Femmes & Flickerstick (of VH1 Bands on the Run fame) - Sunday, July 1, 2001 @ Herman Square in Houston, TX
16. Dave Matthews Band - Sunday, May 5, 2002 @ Woodlands Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX
17. Weezer with Dashboard Confessional - Thursday, August 1, 2002 @ Woodlands Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX
18. John Mayer & Guster - Wednesday, August 28, 2002 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
19. Zwan - Monday, April 14, 2003 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
20. Jason Mraz with Sondre Lerche & Liz Phair - Sunday, August 2003 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
21. Modest Mouse - Sunday, February 20, 2005 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
22. Glen Phillips (from Toad the Wet Sprocket) - Thursday, August 7, 2003 @ Rhythm Room in Houston, TX
23. Graham Colton - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 @ Engine Room in Houston, TX
24. Howie Day with Matt Nathanson & Slop Jar Jr (I only remember them for their odd name) - Wednesday, November 5, 2003 @ Engine Room in Houston, TX
25. Dashboard Confessional with The Get Up Kids - Sunday, June 12, 2004 at Reliant Arena in Houston, TX
26. Death Cab for Cutie with Franz Ferdinand - Thursday, March 30, 2006 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
27. Sondre Lerche - Thursday, November 18, 2004 at Rhythm Room in Houston, TX
28. Wilco - Saturday, April 23, 2005 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
29. Ryan Adams - Wednesday, June 15, 2005 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
30. Franz Ferdinand - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
31. We Are Scientists - March 20, 2006 Walter's in Houston, TX
32. Beulah - May 21, 2006 @ Mary Jane's in Houston, TX
    
33. Arctic Monkeys with We Are Scientists - Thursday, June 8, 2006 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
34. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - September 16, 2006 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
35. French Kicks - September 22, 2006 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
    
36. The Shins with Viva Voce - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
37. Aqueduct - March 18, 2007 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
    
38. Spoon @ Numbers in Houston, TX
    
39. Tokyo Police Club (x2, one with Ra Ra Riot) @ Meridian in Houston, TX
40. Old 97's (x2) @ Meridian in Houston, TX
41. Ryan Adams - Thursday, October 18, 2007 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
42. Hot Hot Heat - Monday, October 22, 2007 @ Meridian
43. Scissors for Lefty - October 25, 2007 @ Jet Lounge in Houston, TX
    
44. Spoon with The New Pornographers - Thursday, November 1, 2007 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
45. Of Montreal with MGMT - November 2, 2007 @ Numbers in Houston, TX
46. Peter Bjorn & John - Friday, November 23, 2007 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
47. Old 97's - Saturday, December 29, 2007 @ La Zona Rosa in Austin, TX
    
48. The Bravery (x2) @ Warehouse Live
49. Built To Spill - October 18, 2006 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
    
50. My Morning Jacket with Yo La Tengo - Monday, March 10, 2008 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
51. Built to Spill with Meat Puppets - March 3, 2008 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
    
52. The Cribs - March 11, 2008 @ Engine Room in Houston, TX
53. The Bravery with Phantom Planet - Saturday, March 22, 2008 @ Diamond Ballroom in Houston, TX
    
54. She Wants Revenge with Be Your Own Pet - Saturday, May 17, 2008 @ Meridian in Houston, TX
55. Son Volt with Bobby Bare Jr. @ Continental Club in Houston, TX
    
56. French Kicks with Young Mammals (Houston band) - Walter's in Houston, TX
57. Old 97's - May 15, 2008 @ Cactus Records in Houston, TX
    
58. Mates of State - Thursday, June 12, 2008 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
59. Stone Temple Pilots with Black Francis (Frank Black of The Pixies) - Saturday, June 28, 2008 @ Woodlands Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX
60. Harry & The Potters - July 8, 2008 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
61. Tilly & The Wall with Wild Moccasins (Houston band) - Friday, July 18, 2008 @ Engine Room in Houston, TX
62. Oh No! Oh My! - Thursday, August 28, 2008 in Houston, TX
63. Vampire Weekend, Mates of State, Del the Funky Homosapien, Jenny Lewis, Old 97's, Drive By Truckers, Jose Gonzalez, Bobby Bare Jr., CSS, MGMT, Iron & Wine, Conor Oberst, Beck (Austin City Limits Festival) - September 26-27 @ Zilker Park in Austin, TX
    
64. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Tuesday, October 14, 2008 @ Verizon Wireless Theater
65. The Ting Tings - Monday, October 20, 2008 @ House of Blues in Houston, TX
66. Weezer - Thursday, October 23, 2008 @ Reliant Arena in Houston, TX
67. Of Montreal - Wednesday, November 12, 2008 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
68. Los Campesinos with Titus Andronicus - Thursday, January 30, 2009 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
    
69. Broken Social Scene - Monday, February 2, 2009 @ Numbers in Houston, TX
70. ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead @ Cactus Records, in Houston, TX
    
71. Andrew Bird - Saturday, March 21, 2009 @ House of Blues in Houston, TX
72. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists with Buxton (Houston band) - Saturday, April 11, 2009 @ KTRU Festival, Rice University in Houston, TX
73. Spoon - Wednesday, April 22, 2009 @ Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
74. Black Kids & Mates of State - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 @ Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
75. Flight of the Conchords - Wednesday, May 6, 2009 @ Jones Hall, Houston, TX
76. Bonnie Prince Billy - Thursday, June 4, 2009 @ Walter's, Houston, TX
77. Wild Moccasins - Tour kickoff, Thursday, Jun. 11 2009 @ Mango's, Houston, TX
78. Jenny Lewis with Heartless Bastards - Wednesday, June 24, 2009 @ Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
79. Death Cab for Cutie - Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @ Red Rocks, Morrison, CO
    

Happiness is a byproduct

The "Quote of the Day" on my Google homepage must repeat every year, because I'm sure I've seen this one before.  Nevertheless, it's so true:

Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness.
- Robertson Davies

Christmas wish list (work in progress)

A few people have asked me what I want for Christmas.  I'll start adding things here and will update it when I think of others:

• Nike+ iPod Watch Remote
• Logitech Harmony 670 Advanced Universal Remote
• Krups GVX2-12 Burr Grinder
• 7.62x39 Ammo
• AK-47 Top Mount Scope Base
• AK-47 30 Round Magazine
• Nikon Prostaff Rifle Scope 4x32

Wall Decoration - More Of Montreal Goodness

I picked up Of Montreal's new record, Skeletal Lamping, at Cactus Records this afternoon.  It came with this interesting wall decoration, which I decided to throw on the wall in the entry way:

Skeletal Limping & Hissing Bankers, Are You the Destroyer?

At the end of my last post, I lamented that most of my posts lack meaningful titles.  Well, if I may be so bold as to self critique the title of this post, it's both witty and fitting.  If you are not well versed in the brilliance that is Kevin Barnes' band Of Montreal, then I'll explain.  The title of the most recent Of Montreal album is "Skeletal Lamping" and its predecessor was "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer".  Sheila and I saw Of Montreal this past week.  We ran our first marathon over the weekend.  And I'll be attending an "End the Fed" rally across from the Houston Federal Reserve Bank this weekend.  If you only have a cursory interest in my little world, feel free to move on to the next blog on your list since I've pretty much told you what I'm going to cover in this post.

The Of Montreal show turned out to be Wednesday night rather than Tuesday.  I've done this to myself before, when I thought Built to Spill was coming to town a week earlier than they actually did.

The show was one of the most theatrical concerts I've seen.  There were projectors, costumes, and skits to enhance the music.  When the lyrics said "Ninjas!  Groove..." they did.  Mr. Barnes started the show glam, stripped down to almost nothing, and finished the show in nothing but whipped cream.  Reading that may have the undeserved side effect of turning off the uninitiated, but trust me, the music is good enough to stand on its own.  Here's a video I shot of them playing Skeletal Lamping's first single, "Id Engager", which opened the show.  I also recorded them playing a medley of "For Our Elegant Caste", "Touched Something's Hollow", and "An Eluardian Instance".

While the Of Montreal show was exciting, even more so was finishing my first marathon.  Sheila and I pushed ourselves through 26.2 miles in the inaugural San Antonio Rock N Roll Marathon yesterday.  We're both limping around today like old people but proud of our accomplishment.  I'm a bit humbled by my 4:45 time; I had hoped for a 4:15 or a 4:30 finish.

Pretty much all of the soreness is in my quads.  The dork socks I mentioned in my last post did the trick supporting my calves and I have no blisters whatsoever on my feet.  I'm wondering if compression shorts might help with the quads when and if I ever decide to torture myself with another marathon.  I'm giving myself most of this week to recover and replace some of the 5200 calories I burned.  Then, I'm planning to get back to riding my bike and lifting weights.  I'll still run from time to time, but it'll be great to have the freedom to do whatever sounds fun rather than training for a single event.  Here's a picture of me with my medal shortly after I finished:

I'll end this post by plugging the "End the Fed" rally being held this Saturday, November 22 from 10 am - 1 pm in Bayou Park across from the Houston Federal Reserve Bank building.  The modern day Paul Revere, Dr. Ron Paul, will be there to warn us that "The bankers are coming!  The Bankers are coming!"  Check out http://endthefed.us/ for more information on this nationwide event.

Oh yeah, and OU is gonna put an end to Texas Tech's undefeated season this Saturday.  Boomer Sooner!

My latest adventures

Again, too long between blog posts.  My faithful readers are clammoring for more of my adventures.  Right?  Well, most likely not, but here it goes...

First, Sheila and I went to the ACL Festival in Austin about a month ago.  It was the first time to go for both of us and we saw a ton of great bands including Vampire Weekend, Bobby Bare Jr, Mates of State, Jenny Lewis, Old 97's, Jose Gonzalez, Drive-By Truckers, Cansei de ser Sexy (CSS), MGMT, Conor Oberst, and Beck.  Here's a video I took of Beck doing "Hell Yes":

Check out the rest of the videos I took here.  I managed to escape without a sunburn thanks to liberal application of SPF 50 sunscreen and a hat, but the allergies were another story.  Apparently, Austin is unofficially the allergy capital of the world.  It hit me so hard I was sneezing constantly and wishing Tylenol made a "snot buckets" formula.  But I had a blast.  I can't wait to find out who will be there next year.

Other concerts I've been to recently include Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, The Ting Tings, and Weezer.  The Ryan Adams show was at Verizon Wireless Theater.  It was my third time to see him and he's one of those artists who sounds even better live.  They played a lot of songs from their new album.  I saw The Ting Tings at the new Houston House of Blues.  I was not impressed with the place as a restaurant nor as a concert venue, but the band put on a good show.  My only criticism would be that the amount of effort the two band members put into constantly jumping between instruments and grabbing them from roadies at just the right point in the song detracted from their performance a bit.  Would it be THAT bad to add an extra member for touring?  The Weezer show was at Reliant Arena.  It was my second time to see them live.  Highlights include a note-for-note perfect performance of Pink Floyd's "Time" and about 30 local amateur musicians playing a variety of instruments (guitars, flutes, saxaphones, trumpets, tubas, hand drums, etc.) with Weezer themselves just singing for a few songs (here's Island in the Sun).  Even funnier was Rivers pointing to a couple people to play the solos in the songs.

I'm going to see Of Montreal on Tuesday night.  They were amazing when I saw them the first time last year, so it should be another good show.  Their new album is a bit schizophrenic, but who really wants to listen to a band who becomes formulaic and fails to evolve?  Speaking of new music, I grabbed the new Ryan Adams on vinyl (complete with a bonus 7" and alternate cover art) last night.  And I can't get Matt & Kim's new song "Daylight" out of my head.  It's perfect to crank up while driving around with the windows down and sunroof open this time of year.

The guys from Guest Room Records in Oklahoma City/Norman have a podcast called "Shoes Are for Work".  They play about 10 indie rock songs in each episode and discuss new releases.  I highly recommend it if you're a music freak like I am.

And now, the running update.  My marathon training has been going well since I picked up some SLS Compression Sox (AKA dork socks) a little over a month ago.  My calves/feet are a lot less sore after running with them and they make longer runs much easier.  Props to Brett for mentioning these on his Zen & The Art of Triathlon podcast.  I've also taken his suggestion of doing 10 pushups for every mile on my shorter runs.  Running six miles and doing 60 pushups in less than an hour is manly.  I dare you to say otherwise.

I did a 20 mile run a couple weekends ago in about 3:30 and burned 3919 calories (that's more than a pound!) along the way:

That was a semi-relaxed pace, so hopefully I can finish the San Antonio Rock N Roll Marathon next weekend in 4:15-4:30.  Since this will be my first marathon, I'm trying not to be too concerned about the time.

I guess that's enough for this variety pack of the life and times of Andy.  Maybe I should post more often so each entry can have a topic and a meaningful title.  Hmmm...something to consider...