We Hardly Knew Ye: Scott Asheton

Dead at 64.
***

We Hardly Knew Ye: Bob Casale

Devo co-founder dead at 61.

That's him on the blue guitar.
***

My Favorite Pop Culture of 2013!

Movies
Of the 32 movies I watched this year, only six were 2013 releases: Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me, Don Jon, Jackass Presents Bad Grandpa, This Is the End, Sound City and Star Trek Into Darkness. The Big Star documentary was great; the others ranged from pretty good to meh... I still wanna see Anchorman 2, Frances Ha, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska, The Punk Singer and some others... As for older movies, I rediscovered Blade Runner, and watched its myriad versions multiple times.

TV
Bob's Burgers became a new favorite. I plowed through all five seasons of Parks and Recreation in a few weeks, and kept current with the latest seasons of Louie and Mad Men. I watched Breaking Bad all the way up through its finale, and while I saw some of the final-season episodes of Eastbound & Down, I haven't yet caught the end. I still watch Saturday Night Live fairly religiously, as I have for the last 25-odd years, mostly out of habit. It's still topical and unpredictable, if not consistently funny.

Rock 'n' Roll
The only 2013 album I regularly played start to finish was David Bowie's The Next Day (unless you count Best Coast's seven-song EP/mini-album thing Fade Away). This led me to revisit all of Bowie's back catalog, which I listened to pretty extensively for much of the year (I played "Station to Station" dozens of times in the car)... Disappointing were new releases by the Pixies, the Strokes, the Replacements and Iggy & the Stooges... However, the 'Mats and the Stooges kicked ass at the Toronto Riot Fest; the only other show I went to this year was a Mudhoney in-store on April Fool's Day... As for older stuff, I sprang for Bob Dylan's 47-disc Complete Album Collection: Vol. One ($197 on Amazon -- that's $4.19 per disc!)... The one album I listened to far more than any other was 1980's Pleasure by Girls at Our Best!. Since I couldn't find the lyrics anyplace, I took a shot at transcribing them here... Other 2013 albums/songs I like:
Camera Obscura -- "Do It Again"
Neko Case -- "Madonna of the Wasps"
Dead Ghosts -- "B.A.D."
Grant Hart -- "Morningstar"
Melvins -- Everybody Loves Sausages, Tres Cabrones
Mudhoney -- Vanishing Point
Thee Oh Sees -- Floating Coffin
Those Darlins -- "Optimist"
Wooden Shjips -- "Ruins"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- Mosquito

Books
Jeez, did I only read two books this year? Yep. Those would be Bebe Day by Day by Pamela Druckerman and Jim Gaffigan's Dad is Fat. Both are related to parenting, which makes sense -- in January I became a first-time dad to twin girls (which also explains why I've been even further out of the pop-culture loop this year)... The Replacements: Waxed-Up Hair and Painted Shoes: The Photographic History looks terrific, though I haven't actually read the text yet. Same with Fan Interference, which is also gathering dust on my nightstand.

Comics
Didn't read many comics either, other than Peter Bagge's Reset, Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half, and A Matter of Life by Jeffrey Brown. All good.

For those keeping score, here are my favorites from 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006 (movies and music).
***

We Hardly Knew Ye: Lou Reed

Dead at 71.
***

My Top Five iTunes Songs

According to iTunes, these are the five most-played tracks between my iPod, iPhone, and various Mac laptops, ever since I started using iTunes in 2006...

1. "Waterbed Babies" by Girls at Our Best!, from the album Pleasure (Happy Birthday, 1981).

2. "Nonsense" by Komeda, from the album Kokomemedada (Minty Fresh, 2003).

3. "Sunday Morning" by the Velvet Underground, from the album The Velvet Underground & Nico (Verve, 1967).

4. "I Am Free" by the Kinks, from the album The Kink Kontroversy (Pye, 1965).

5. "Wreck My Flow" by the Dirtbombs, from the album We Have You Surrounded (In the Red, 2008).

For best results, play all five videos at once -- it's the best song ever!
***

Toronto, Part 1: Rock 'n' Roll

Just returned from six days in Toronto, a city I'd never been to before, as part of my ongoing quest to see all 30 MLB teams play in their current homes. I chose an August Blue Jays/Yankees series, mainly so I could see Ichiro. Shortly after booking the trip -- holy shit! -- the Replacements announced they'd play their first show in 22 years, in Toronto, the very day I'd be traveling there! So, for $200, I moved my flight up a day and got myself a concert ticket. Altogether a bit costly, but the Riot Fest would also include supporting acts Iggy and the Stooges, Dinosaur Jr., Rocket from the Crypt and Best Coast. I don't like big, daylong, outdoor festivals, what with the crowds, the elements, lots of waiting around, the abbreviated sets, and so forth. But still!

Here are some shitty iPhone pics along with my take on the various sets...

Best Coast (above) was okay -- I really dig their albums, but after seeing them in Seattle last year, I didn't feel the need to ever see 'em again.

I also saw Dinosaur once before, in 1993, without Lou Barlow. It was great to finally catch their original lineup in action. They played a solid career-spanning set, though I wish it included “Little Furry Things.” I wore earplugs.

Also in ’93 was the only previous time I’d seen Rocket from the Crypt, in their hometown of San Diego where I was living at the time. They’re the kind of band I tried getting into but never really could, and their Toronto set didn’t change that. Though I did appreciate that they played “Born in ’69,” because I was.

The earplugs went back in for Iggy and company. I’d seen Iggy solo a couple times in the ‘90s, and then in the reformed Stooges in 2005, with brothers Ron and Scott Asheton, plus Mike Watt on bass. Ron has since died, and due to a stroke, Scott was replaced by some guy named Toby Dammit on drums. Watt still played with them, along Funhouse-era saxman Steve Mackay. Best of all, Raw Power-era guitarist James Williamson was in the lineup, killing it on the title track, “Search and Destroy,” “Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell,” plus some tunes from the Iggy/ Williamson album Kill City. My favorite song of the set, which I never expected to hear, was “Cock in My Pocket.” On the other hand, they wasted precious time with three relative stinkers from their mediocre new album.

Honestly though, while all those other bands played, I was looking ahead in anticipation of the Replacements.

Finally, the 'Mats took the stage right on time for a kickass 23-song, 75-minute set. Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson were the only original members -- Josh Freese (who I’d last seen as Devo’s drummer in 2011) replaced Chris Mars, and some other guy filled in for guitarist Slim Dunlap (who, like Scott Asheton, also suffered a debilitating stroke). For those keeping score, Dunlap replaced original member Bob Stinson, Tommy's older brother, who was kicked out of the band in 1986 and died nine years later.

Well what about the tunes? They opened with "Takin' a Ride," covered Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline” and Sham 69’s “Borstal Breakout," and played three songs from my favorite-ever album Pleased to Meet Me, including album opener/show closer “I.O.U.” (Before the song, Paul said that he once asked Iggy Pop for an autograph, and Iggy wrote down what became the song’s chorus: “I.O.U. nothing.”) Plus lots of other faves: "Color Me Impressed," "I Will Dare," "Bastards of Young," etc. For the encore, Paul came out wearing a Montreal Canadiens sweater, getting some good-natured boos from the Toronto crowd. Two songs later and they were gone, leaving me thrilled by what I just witnessed.

But that wasn't the end of it. By coincidence, the next morning I took a shortcut through the lobby of the Royal York Hotel on my way to the Hockey Hall of Fame, only to discover Tommy Stinson waiting around with his bags, looking like he just checked out. I went up to him and said, “Hey, Tommy, great show last night!” He thanked me, we shook hands, and he agreed to a photo...

Cool! Then he walked outside. I sat for a minute, and it occurred to me that Paul must be nearby, so I went outside too. Sure enough, there he was with Tommy and some roadies, looking like they were all waiting for a lift to the airport. I repeated the scene with Paul: great show, handshake, photo...

I added that I got choked up the when they played “Alex Chilton” the previous night, seeing as how Paul's idol died in 2010. During the song, I noticed Paul glimpse skyward as he sang the line “If he died in Memphis, wouldn’t that be cool?”, though Chilton actually died in New Orleans. (Paul's touching New York Times memorial to Alex appeared shortly afterward.) Then, as a sort of tossed-off "see ya," I wished Paul good luck, and continued on to the Hall of Fame. It quickly occurred to me that it was kinda like the line in "Alex Chilton" where Paul describes his first meeting with Alex in New York: "Feeling like a million bucks, exchanging good lucks, face to face." Maybe it was a subconscious thing on my part.

Anyway, my Toronto trip peaked early, but the rest of it was good too. I'll post the other highlights soon.
***

Happy 25th, Sub Pop!

The venerable Seattle label hits the big two-five today, at least according to Sub Pop. Wikipedia says otherwise -- a lame April Fool's joke?

Toeing the company line, Mudhoney frontman Mark Arm mentioned today's 25th anniversary during tonight's in-store show at the West Seattle Easy Street Records. A good performance, and afterwards I went into total fanboy mode: I had all four band members shake my hand and sign my free Ed Fotheringham poster, and I even got a photo with Mark Arm himself, one of my all-time rock 'n' roll idols...

 

Sub Pop was the shit in late-'80s/early-'90s Seattle, when Mudhoney was king (tho' soon dethroned by lesser label-mates Soundgarden and Nirvana). While Sub Pop worked with heaps of cool acts, my other all-time favorite band to record for the label is Girl Trouble.

Looking forward to July's Sub Pop Silver Jubilee...
***

Happy 25th, Surfer Rosa!

The Pixies' first full-length record hits the big two-five today.

Surfer Rosa was released in the UK on March 21, 1988, and it came out in the US that August. Sometime that summer I first heard the album's lead single, "Gigantic," on Seattle's KJET. Then that fall, my college roommate had the full-length LP, which I immediately dug (though I was disappointed that "Gigantic" was the record's only song sung by "Mrs. John Murphy"). I soon bought myself Rough Trade's import CD, which also had 1987's Come on Pilgrim EP tacked on at the end. To me, the two releases on that single disc have always run together like double album -- Rosa's "Brick is Red" flows seamlessly into Pilgrim's "Caribou."

Part of the fascination was that, at the time, the Pixies were largely a mystery to me. I had no idea what the band members looked like, nor was even sure of their real names. The CD booklet, designed by Vaughan Oliver, just had those sepia photos of a topless senorita.

Twenty-five years later, it's still my second-favorite album ever of all-time ever. This remains my number one.
***

Happy 40th, Raw Power!

The Iggy and the Stooges classic hit the big four-oh this month -- February 7, to be exact.

This occurred to me today, upon reading that "Iggy and the Stooges" will be releasing a follow-up record in April. The new album apparently shouldn't be confused with The Weirdness, which "The Stooges" released in 2007 as a follow-up to 1970's Fun House. (I was too kind to The Weirdness here -- it totally sucked.)

Anyway, here's hoping Ready to Die -- featuring Raw Power guitar ace James Williamson -- doesn't totally suck.
***

Happy 25th, Mudhoney!

My favorite hometown band -- and my third-fave band ever, behind the Stones and the 'Mats -- hits the big two-five today. Long may they rock.
***

My Favorite Music, Movies, Video & Books of '12!

Movies
The Dark Knight Rises
I'm Now: The Story of Mudhoney
Searching for Sugar Man
Notes: Of the 19 movies I saw this year, eleven of which were 2012 releases, and just these three of those I deemed list-worthy... I got myself all psyched for The Amazing Spider-Man, but it turned out to be a proverbial turd in the punchbowl... And the less said about Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, the better.

Video
Breaking Bad: Season 4
Eastbound & Down: Season 3
Get a Life: The Complete Series
Louie: Season 2
Notes: This doesn't include stuff from the "Movies" list above, just TV shows... Still need to see season five of Mad Men, released this year... Can't wait 'til the latest seasons of Breaking Bad and Louie are out on video, hopefully in 2013.


Songs
Best Coast - "Mean Girls"
Dum Dum Girls - "I Got Nothing"
Bob Dylan - "Pay in Blood"
Ben Gibbard - "Ichiro's Theme"
Japandroids - "The House That Heaven Built"
King Tuff - "Bad Thing"
Melvins - "Let Me Roll It"
Bob Mould - "The Descent"
Public Image Ltd. - "One Drop"
The Rolling Stones - "Doom and Gloom"
Soundgarden - "Been Away Too Long"
Bruce Springsteen - "We Take Care of Our Own"
TacocaT - "Cat Fancy"
Thee Oh Sees - "Lupine Dominus"
Jack White - "I'm Shakin'"
Notes: I just don't get into new albums as much as individual songs anymore, though the exception this year would be Best Coast's The Only Place... A couple older acts I became obsessed with in 2012 are the Beach Boys and Hüsker Dü (the first rock concert I ever saw was the Beach Boys, at the Puyallup Fair in 1981 or '82, and I regret not seeing them on their 50th anniversary tour this year; I saw Bob Mould open for the Pixies in '89 (and thought he sucked)... I'm also bummed that I again missed the original Dinosaur Jr. lineup when they came through town... Otherwise, I saw some classic rock bands for the first time (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Heart) as well as a couple new favorites (Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls), plus some old standbys (Girl Trouble, Melvins, Young Fresh Fellows).

Books
The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy
Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman
The Obamas by Jodi Kantor
Everybody Loves Our Town by Mark Yarm
Notes: I didn't read much this year. The other ten books I did read were either published in previous years (the best of which was Duff McKagan's It's So Easy (And Other Lies)), or comics...

Comics
The Art of Daniel Clowes: Modern Cartoonist by Alvin Buenaventura
Batman: Earth One by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank
Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland by Harvey Pekar
New York Drawings by Adrian Tomine
Notes: I still wanna read Chris Ware's Building Stories.

For those keeping score, here are my favorites from 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006 (movies and music).
***

I Read a Book: Rock Seen

Alright, this coffee-table book took maybe ten minutes to actually read, but I could pour over Bob Gruen's classic rock 'n' roll photos for hours. Above, the Clash; below, Kiss...

Johnny Thunders...

Mick...

Patti...

I borrowed a copy from the Seattle Pvblic Library (Colvmbia City branch), but you can buy it here.
***

Hot New Mexico Action

I spent a few days last week in New Mexico, bringing the number of states I've visited to 43. (However, 15 of those I haven't spent a night in, and in two of 'em -- Florida and Nebraska -- I didn't even get outside the airport. Still haven't been to Iowa, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Vermont, or either Dakota.)

Anyway, upon touching down last Sunday at the Albuquerque airport Sunport, I visited Isotopes Park (above), home of the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes (so named after a certain Simpsons episode). Then I drove down a nearby stretch of Route 66, though I was disappointed that it didn't look as cool as in this 1969 Ernst Haas photo. Time for a late lunch, so I had a footlong and Frito pie at the Dog House...

After checking into my downtown hotel, I drove up to the Santa Ana Star Center (a small arena on the edge of the desert) for a performance of Batman Live. Despite the Cirque du Soleil-type bullshit, I enjoyed it anyhow -- it was a good story, and besides, I'm a sucker for all stuff Batman. For dinner I ate a burrito at the Frontier Restaurant, then headed over to the Launchpad to see the Melvins on their record-setting tour. Nobody rocks a muumuu like King Buzzo...

Monday morning I rode the Sandia Peak Tramway to its 10,378-foot summit, the highest elevation I've ever been on land...

Back in the city I had a so-so Lotaburger at local chain Blake’s...

Belly full, I motored four hours to the south and west through desert, mountains, and Truth or Consequences to my sister and her husband's house outside Silver City, where I spent a couple nights in their Airstream...

On Tuesday we drove an hour north to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (below), and soaked in some nearby hot springs.

Wednesday I headed back to Albuquerque and flew home, changing planes at the Phoenix airport Sky Harbor. Next time I visit, I'll fly into either Tucson or El Paso, both of which are closer to Silver City than Albuquerque, and neither of which has a stupid airport name.

New Mexico's license plates refer to the state as a "Land of Enchantment," though I also found it a land of hot-air balloons, Kokopellis, dreamcatchers, green chile, blue crystal meth, and bloody, crusty boogers, which I woke up to every morning (I'm not used to the dry climate). However, thanks to melatonin and proper hydration, I slept much better at these relatively high altitudes than I had in the past. Still, I was glad to get home, down at sea level during a rainy stretch of weather.

***

97 Self-Referential Song Titles

"Anthrax" by Anthrax, from the album Fistful of Metal (1984).

"Bad Company" by Bad Company, from the album Bad Company (1974).

"We're the Banana Splits" single by the Banana Splits (1968)...


"Doin' the Banana Split" by the Banana Splits, from the EP Kellogg's Presents The Banana Splits Sing'n Play Doin' the Banana Split (1969).

"Beastie Boys" by the Beastie Boys, from the EP Polly Wog Stew (1982).

"White Belly" by Belly, from the album Star (1993).

"This Is Big Audio Dynamite" by Big Audio Dynamite, B-side of the 7" single "Medicine Show" (1985).

"In a Big Country" by Big Country, from the album The Crossing (1983).

"Reverend Black Grape" single by Black Grape (1995).

"Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath, from the album Black Sabbath (1970).

"Blacktop (Intro)" and "Blacktop (Outro)" by Blacktop, from the album I Got A Baaad Feelin' About This (1994).

"Blue Öyster Cult" by Blue Öyster Cult, from the album Imaginos (1988).

"Bust Out" single by the Busters (Arlen, 1963).

"Butthole Surfer" by the Butthole Surfers, from the album Psychic... Powerless... Another Man's Sac (1984).

"Bo Diddley" single by Bo Diddley (1955).

"Diddley Daddy" single by Bo Diddley (1955).

"Hey! Bo Diddley" single by Bo Diddley (1957).

"Bo Diddley 1969" single by Bo Diddley (1969).

"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" single by the Chipmunks (1958).

"Clash City Rockers" single by the Clash (1978).

"This Is Radio Clash"/"Radio Clash" single by the Clash (1981)...


"We Are the Clash" by the Clash, from the album Cut the Crap (1985).

"Hey Hey We’re the Cowlicks" by the Cowlicks, from the album Hey Hey We’re the Cowlicks (2009).

"This is Cracker Soul" by Cracker, from the album Cracker (1992).

"I'm Cramped" by the Cramps, from the album Songs the Lord Taught Us (1980).

"Cramp Stomp" by the Cramps, from the album Big Beat from Badsville (1997).

"The Funky Cypress Hill Shit" by Cypress Hill, from the album Cypress Hill (1991).

"D.O.A." by D.O.A., from the album Hardcore '81 (1981).

"Milkmen Stomp" by the Dead Milkmen, from the album Death Rides a Pale Cow (1997).

"Dead Moon Night" by Dead Moon, from the album Unknown Passage (1989).

"Destroid" by Destroid, from the album At Birth/Till Death (2013).

"Devo Corporate Anthem" by Devo, from the album Duty Now for the Future (1979)...

"Theme from the Dirtbombs" single by the Dirtbombs (1998).

"Dirtbomb Blues" by the Dirtbombs, from the album Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit (2001).

"Dr. Octagon" by Dr. Octagon, from the album Dr. Octagonecologyst (1996).

"Bob Dylan's Blues" by Bob Dylan, from the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963).

"Bob Dylan's Dream" by Bob Dylan, from the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963).

"Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" by Bob Dylan, from the album Bringing It All Back Home (1965).

"Essential Logic" single by Essential Logic (1981).

"Flat Duo Jets Anthem" by Flat Duo Jets, from the album Go Go Harlem Baby (1991).

"Hey, Hey We're the Gories" by the Gories, from the album I Know You Fine, But How You Doin' (1990).

"Green Day" by Green Day, from the album 39/Smooth (Lookout!, 1990).

"Green Fuz" single by Randy Alvey and the Green Fuz (Wash-Tex, 1968).

"Heartless" by Heart, from the album Magazine (1978)...


"The Hives - Declare Guerre Nucleaire" by the Hives, from the album Veni Vidi Vicious (2000).

"The Hives Introduce the Metric System in Time" by the Hives, from the album Veni Vidi Vicious (2000).

"The Hives Meet the Norm" by the Hives, from the album Tyrannosaurus Hives (2004).

"T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S." by the Hives, from the The Black and White Album (2007).

"Do You Remember?" by Hüsker Dü, from the album Everything Falls Apart and More (1993).

"Iron Butterfly Theme" by Iron Butterfly, from the album Heavy (1968).

"Iron Maiden" by Iron Maiden, from the album Iron Maiden (1980).

"Hey Jean, Hey Dean" single by Dean and Jean (1964).

"JFA" by JFA, from the EP Blatant Localism (1981).

"Inside the World of the Blues Explosion" by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, from the album Extra Width (1993).

"Kissin' Time" by Kiss, from the album Kiss (1974).

"The Loved One" single by the Loved Ones (1966)...


"Madness (Is All in the Mind)" by Madness, from the album The Rise & Fall (1982).

"Meat Puppets" by Meat Puppets, from the album Meat Puppets (1982).

"Metal Church" by Metal Church, from the album Metal Church (1984).

"Hey Y’all We’re Miami" single by Miami (1975).

"Minor Threat" by Minor Threat, from the EP Minor Threat (1981).

"Monk Time" by the Monks, from the album Black Monk Time (1965).

"(Theme From) The Monkees" by the Monkees, from the album The Monkees (1966).

"I'm Just a Mops" by the Mops, from the album Psychedelic Sounds in Japan (1968)...


"Motörhead" by Motörhead, from the album Motörhead (1977).

"Mudhoney Funky Butt" by Mudhoney, from the album My Brother the Cow (1995).

"Hey Y'all We're Nice and Wild" by Nice and Wild, from the album Energy, Love and Unity (1987).

"Legend of Paul Revere" single by the Paul Revere & the Raiders (1967).

"Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" single by Pigbag (1981).

"Porno for Pyros" by Porno for Pyros, from the album Porno for Pyros (1993).

"Pretty Thing" by the Pretty Things, from the The Pretty Things (1965).

"My Name is Prince" by Prince, from the Love Symbol Album (1992).

"Public Enemy No. 1" by Public Enemy, from the album Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987).

"Public Image" single by Public Image Ltd (1978)...


"This is PiL" by Public Image Ltd, from the album This is PiL (2012).

"Killer Queen" by Queen, from the album Sheer Heart Attack (1974).

"Queen of the Reich" by Queensrÿche, from the EP Queensrÿche (1982).

"The Ballad of Railroad Jerk" by Railroad Jerk, from the album One Track Mind (1995).

"Rainbow Eyes" by Rainbow, from the album Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978).

"R.A.M.O.N.E.S." by the Ramones, from the album Greatest Hits Live (1996).

"Like a Rolling Stone" by the Rolling Stones, from the album Stripped (1995)...


"Samhain" by Samhain, from the album Initium (1984).

"Shaggs' Own Thing" by the Shaggs, from the album Shaggs' Own Thing (1982).

"S.O.U.N.D.S." by the Sounds, from the album Living in America (2003).

"SuperHeavy" by SuperHeavy, from the album SuperHeavy (2011).

"Talk Talk" by Talk Talk, from the album The Party's Over (1982).

"They Might by Giants" by They Might be Giants, from the album Flood (1990).

"Tin Machine" by Tin Machine, from the album Tin Machine (1989).

"Voivod" by Voivod, from the album War and Pain (1984).

"Wailin'" by the Wailers, from the album The Fabulous Wailers (1959).

"Wailers House Party" by the Wailers, from the album The Fabulous Wailers at the Castle (1961).

"The Wailer" by the Wailers, from the album Wailers Wailers Everywhere (1965).

"Who Are You" by the Who, from the album Who Are You (1978).

"Wilco (The Song)" by Wilco, from the album Wilco (The Album) (2009).

"Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit" by Wu-Tang Clan, from the album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993).

"Young Fresh Fellows Theme" by the Young Fresh Fellows, from the album The Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwest (1984)...


...Lemme know if you can think of any others -- like my pals JP, Kris, Heidi, Ken and Paul did -- I'm sure there are many more.
***

Apropos of Nothing #7

***

MPLS

Yesterday I returned from the latest of my annual ballparks-I've-never-been-to-before road trips, this time to Minneapolis. There I saw the Mariners take two out of three from the Twins, though I didn't stick around for the series finale, which the M's also won. (I've now attended games at 26 of the 30 current MLB stadiums, leaving only Toronto, Tampa Bay, Miami and Wrigley Field.) The series highlight was easily Monday's game, in which King Felix threw a complete-game five-hit shutout. On top of that, Root Sports showed me on the M's Seattle telecast, thanks to some behind-the-scenes arrangements by my pals Curtis and Amy. Here I am, game face on...

A couple days later, I took a tour of the Twins' former home, the Metrodome, where the Vikings still play...

I was far more impressed with the Dome Plus store across the street, especially its Original Baseball Hall of Fame Museum of Minnesota...

I bought a Twins T-shirt there.

One day I went out to Saint Paul, where I checked out the Minnesota Wild hockey arena, and had a late breakfast at Mickey's Dining Car...

Another day I ventured down to Bloomington to see the rocket-powered Human Fly motorcycle, built in 1977 by Rocketman Ky Michaelson. Ky welcomed me into his home, showing me his custom cycles and homemade rockets and celebrity photos and heaps of other memorabilia, and regaling me with stories of working with the Human Fly and other daredevils throughout his career. All in all, a great guy.

Here's video of the Fly's rocket-powered jump (it starts at the 5:15 mark), and here's the bike's gas tank (which wasn't actually on the bike at the time of the jump)...

Also in Bloomington I visited the Mall of America, just to gawk at the monstrosity of it all (I bought an Orange Julius to enhance the experience). It's built on the site of the former Twins/Vikings home, Metropolitan Stadium, while the nearby Ikea is built on the site of the former North Stars home, the Met Center. These are my feet...

I got around the Twin Cities via bus, taxi, light rail and bicycle. The bike rental system is way better than what I experienced a few years back in Copenhagen, and even if the bikes themselves are somewhat cumbersome, they're easier to ride in flat Minneapolis than a lightweight 18-speed is in hilly Seattle. This is what a rental kiosk looks like...

I pedaled by the Let It Be house and Paul Westerberg's house, around Lake Calhoun, across the Stone Arch Bridge, and through Dinkytown to the Gopher Hole...

Foodwise, the best thing I ate was an amazing mushroom tart at Fika, the American Swedish Institute's cafe (and I got Eliza this tea towel in the ASI gift shop). I also liked the Jucy Lucy at Matt's, and Black Sheep's meatball pizza, which I shared with my pal Nicole. Along the way, I enjoyed plenty of Surly, Summit, and especially Grain Belt beer...

At The Depot (part of the famed First Avenue/7th Street Entry rock 'n' roll complex), I had the pleasure of meeting up with Tom, the guy who does my favorite baseball blog, It’s a Long Season. The building is covered with stars commemorating the more noteworthy acts that have performed there over the years, including this personal favorite...

Besides the 'Mats, songs by Husker Du and Soul Asylum ran through my head throughout the trip.

What else? I played Spider-Man and Rolling Stones pinball at Grumpy’s, saw statues of Mary Tyler Moore, Kirby Puckett, and several Peanuts characters, bought some Batman Legos at the flagship Target store downtown, walked through a bit of the Skyway, and took in the view from the Foshay Tower...

So yeah, I crammed a whole lot into three days, yet I still found time for a couple naps and a dip in the hotel pool. Still, I missed a few things that'll have to wait 'til next time: the Witch's Hat Water Tower, Nye’s Polonaise Room, the 5-8 Club, the CC Club, and a Silver Butter Knife Steak from Murray's (currently closed for renovations)...

Love is all around, indeed... Skål! 

***