Willie Nelson, John Mellancamp, Bob Dylan, Sauget ball park, 7/2/09

Had a great time at the Dylan-Mellancamp-Nelson show last week.

My directions said the exit would be closed at 4:00 but well before that I was forced to drive past it to the detour, going right past the venue and seeing a dismayingly large number of cars there already (dammit!). the detour wound through a small town via large 'CONCERT TRAFFIC' signs that I hoped to heavens would be there on the way out - it was very confusing. anyway, finally got there around 3:30. I was surprised to see that a lot of people seemed to be tailgating or something - at an all GA show that you care enough about to get there early, why hang around in the parking lot? GET IN LINE IDIOTS. the line was disconcertingly long but I went 'hmmm' and asked a security guy whether there was a different line for 'early entry' internet presale holders, and YES, it is around the building, where the line is much much shorter and we even have our own portajohn so yay! during all this, could plainly hear Mellancamp soundchecking Pink Houses and Rain on the Scarecrow.

anyhoo, I do okay in line with hidden water bottle and sun hat and all, and I get second-back at the rail at what I hope is still Bob's side eventually. However, it's only like 4:45 p.m. at this point! long night ensues. I asked the guy next to me to watch my spot - this early, people have blankets spread out and stuff, so it's not like pushing and shoving anyway - and he asks me to get him a bottle of water, which No Prob. so I have the chance to hit the real bathrooms, refill my bottle at a fountain, buy his water, buy me a pepsi, get a handful of ice out of the cooler, yay. lots of time to sit around, and the crowd seems way less annoying than last time, fewer already-drunk guys, although this one guy takes his shirt off and lies on a blanket and he's like a walrus out there. dude. your boobs. cover them.

finally finally after the chick right in front of me and the guy says she got there at 5 a.m. about a hundred times (and for what? she's right in front of us) the opener opened, and I can't remember their name at all, but they were like a more gimmicky Old Crow Medicine Show, the guy had a washboard with like little cymbals and horns and aooogahs and megaphones and stuff hanging off him, he was a little much, but it was neat. it was like string band plus pedal steel kind of combo. I always like a mando-banjo.

then a quick break and Willie Nelson and his Elderly Band. I've seen Willie FOUR times now, three times opening for Dylan and once at Crossroads. SIGH. I mean, fine, he's a legend, he wrote great songs, but enough. so anyway, I decided to just jot down what I knew, which was:
whisky river
beer/horses
mama, don't let your
funny how time slips/crazy
money honey/time
blue eyes cryin'
georgia
take all of me
on road again
always on my mind
circle be unbroken/I'll fly away
I ain't superman
I saw the light
and here's the real list from the STL paper:
1. Whiskey River
2. Still Is Still Movin' to Me
3. Beer for My Horses
4. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
5. Funny How Time Slips Away/Crazy/Night Life
6. Down Yonder
7. Me and Paul
8. If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time
9. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
10. I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train
11. Georgia
12. All of Me
13. On the Road Again
14. Always on My Mind
15. Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away
16. I Ain't Superman
17. You Asked Me To
18. Nowhere Road
19. I Saw the Light
He was fine, he made a big deal out of waving to a little girl and making sure she got his bandanna, and he's just a fun guy, basically. really really old. but fun. his sister still plays a pretty mean pianny and his harmonica player still looks like Mandy Patinkin.

after that there seemed like a kind of long break before Mellancamp. I have to admit that Mellancamp is one of those guys like Melissa Etheridge, I like their hits, I recognize their import, and still I just never really got into them and bought the albums and stuff. I don't really know why; it just happens that way with some people. anyway he brought a really fun show, high energy but not annoyingly so, venue-appropriate, he had a 7-piece with a violist and accordian/KB, and his guitar player who looked like a young Jeff Beck was really good. Of course I was in front of the rhythm guy, I'm never in front of the lead guy if I'd like to watch him, but still, good stuff indeed.
Here's a phone picture of him over in our area:

Here's what I wrote down for his list
pink houses
paper & fire
check it out
small town (acoustic)
rain scarecrow
what if I came knockin'
walls tumblin' down
authority
there were kind of a lot of songs I didn't know, so I guessed they might be newer, but the ones I didn't recognize, I thought were really good. and I really like 'rain on the scarecrow' and the whole neil young farm aid alt country thing. as J said, it's funny how we never really got into him but he sounds just like everything we listen to now. here's his 'official' set from the STL paper again:
1. Pink Houses
2. Paper in Fire
3. Deep Blue Heart
4. Check It Out
5. Don't Need This Body
6. Small Town
7. Old Rugged Cross
8. Rain on the Scarecrow
9. The Real Life
10. If I Die Sudden
11. What If I Came Knocking
12. Crumblin' Down
13. Authority Song
Small Town was really good, although I share the experience without the sentiment of the song. also there was a cameraman and also a still photographer, and the photographer was a hot blond chick, and she also handed him water sometimes when he ran over to the side, and during Small Town he sang 'my wife was 13 years old when I wrote this song,' and she cracked up and he cracked up and it was evident that's who hot babe was. anyway, he was personable and stuff too. would see again for cheap.

at that point I was feeling pretty tired and also anticipatory, because I am (as you might know) a big and long-time Dylan fan and this was maybe my eighth or ninth time seeing him over the years and I always always always really really look forward to it. Bob is ... I mean, he's my hero, man. DUDE. He's Bob Freaking Dylan. also it was time for a bit of a crowd press forward and this really tiny wee chick hurtled herself forward and tried to claim the rail between the three teenage boys in front of me. she was totally wasted but she wasn't like 'is there room for me to squeeze in here, I'm so short' she was more like 'let me in front of you, asshole, you're a foot taller than me! fuck you.' so she backed away and cursed and bothered everyone, and the kids called security over, and they left and she cursed and bothered everyone, and rinse and repeat a few times and security was really great about it and told her she simply had to move away either far to the right or far to the left because of all the complaints, or else leave. and there she went, away, and there was much rejoicing, because I do so hate having to deal with that crap for a whole show. I hate assholes - regardless of height - who feel entitled to push and shove to the front. if you want it so badly, get there earlier, for the love of god. It's not that hard for most shows.

anyway, finally, there was time to observe that Bob's had really a lot of the same roadies for 15 or 20 years now, I especially always recognize this one guy with a pronounced limp, even though he's had so many different bands, shoot, I've seen him with Charlie Sexton and G.E. Smith and so on and on. but this band he's had for the last few years is really hot and happening. Bob, now, he's, well, yes, his voice, obviously, that's been problematic for some years, has it not? yes. but I am happy to say that Bob was in relatively strong voice. coming off a month off with only one show the night before, so a little rested after Europe, and honestly his voice has gotten stronger over the last few years, he has strength to play harmonica more and more, so that's good too. so here's the list from bobdylan.com:

1. Watching the River Flow
2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
3. The Levee's Gonna Break
4. Spirit on the Water
5. Things Have Changed
6. Just Like a Woman
7. Honest With Me
8. Forgetful Heart (apparently first live performance of)
9. Highway 61 Revisited
10. This Dream of You
11. Thunder on the Mountain
12. Like a Rolling Stone
(encore)
13. Jolene
14. All Along the Watchtower

In fact, speaking of good voice, this is a rarity, but I was surprised, and pleased to realize that I was able to recognize nearly all the songs immediately. I must've been standing in a sweet spot; I could understand most of the words, even. the songs I didn't really recognize immediately were the new ones, too. context: bob is legendary for rearrangements, wandering off melody, etc. in addition to the voice and vocal mannerisms. but this time, woah. the first two are great classics, but Just Like A Woman was a real high point for me, and Highway 61 was righteous, and Rolling Stone and Watchtower were smokin' too. and I noted this last time, but last time I was busy with heatstroke and so couldn't fully appreciate it, but when you're really close you can see that Bob is interacting with the audience in an extremely small and eccentric way, and you can see him signal the band and even SMILE yes he was smiling OFTEN. SHOCKING. He also said "Thank you! Right now I'd like to introduce the band," before he did so. (Bob is also known for not speaking to the audience AT ALL when not in the mood, so "thank you" is awesome!)

I know, I'm making him sound like an asshole, but no, he's just bob dylan, and in my book he's totally entitled. when you've shaped modern culture then you can bitch.

so there you go, a happy happy time for me, good show, and bless his elderly heart, bob just keeps doing it. so yeah. I grinned a lot. the end.

Here Bob is in the middle of the stage; I think he must've been doing 'Forgetful Heart' here:


and here he is over at the keyboard; you can see his oscar on the amp at right (blurry glow):

U2 tour sneak peeks

It's not long until the U2 tour starts up in Europe! They've been building the stage and rehearsing in Barcelona.

Here are some looks at the stage, which they're calling "the claw" but which I think also looks like 1. "the tentacles" and 2. "the dangerous carnival ride." It's supposed to rotate, but I'm having a little trouble envisioning exactly to which part the rotation will be confined to. I'm also imagining how many of us it'll kill when it collapses, and how many times Bono will get stranded outside the rotation zone by wandering off script.

http://www.u2eastlink.com/

http://www.u2eastlink.com/foro/read.php?18,1000503300,1000503338#msg-1000503338

http://forum.atu2.com/index.php/topic,6363.0.html

Qualms aside - my husband said it looks PopMart-y, which *shudder* - it looks pretty cool.

Secondly, here are a couple of rumored set lists from rehearsals. A few interesting things on there, but sadly it looks like they plan on doing "unknown caller" - the one song I always skip on the new cd. have a look:

http://forum.atu2.com/index.php/topic,6366.0.html

http://www.u2gigs.com/

dbt, stl, 3/28/09

So I never posted about the Drive By Truckers show from a couple of weeks ago, so here it is: some comments and 25 pictures (new camera!)

The Truckers show was supposed to be in February, but Patterson had pneumonia and they had to postpone it a month. I was really really looking forward to it in February, so imagine how much more I was anticipating it in March!

We got there before the doors were supposed to open, but imagine our surprise when it became evident that the doors had opened early! At least this year I didn't let J entrust me with the tickets, and therefore I did not lose them! anyhoo, when we got there, a lot of the seats were taken already, but the floor was still pretty open except right in the middle right at the stage. We had debated seats-versus-floor for a while and did find seats right in the middle in front of the sound board, from where one assumes the sound will be best. However, once we sat, we realized we were right behind the guys who were recording audio, so their mic stands were right in front of us and would be in all my photos too. We hemmed and hawed for a bit and finally decided to get our butts down on the floor where they belonged before it was too late. So we did. I think this was our fifth Truckers show, and we’ve been further back twice, right in the middle in front of Patterson once, and on the left right in front of Neff once. This time: Cooleyville! That’s right! We were right in front of the man, between some kids from Minnesooota who were driving back that night and a guy and his little daughter from the message boards.

So. Also for some reason the venue wasn’t letting booze on the floor. Which, for me, was great. Although I enjoy - and miss! - having a few beers at a show, I often don’t bother slithering out of my spot, going to fetch drinks, slithering back in, and the inevitable having to pee out three bottles of beer for every one consumed. At that point you’re missing a lot of the show. However, although I thought the rule was strange, I think it did two things: first, kept the floor open longer than it would have been, and second, kept the stupid annoying loud shouter drunks from shoving up right behind us and bawling a particular song name in our ear at inappropriate times all night, which is what happens all too often.

I know it has a lot to do with being down front, but … this show was great. Definitely better than last year, and perhaps better than the show at Mississippi Nights, which was an incredible show in itself. The band just seemed like they were having a great time all night, and that really translates into fun for all. Patterson was himself, Shonna got D-R-U-N-K (say in Animal House ‘that boy is a P-I-G pig’ voice for maximum fun), and Cooley turned out to be … a camera whore! Who knew? Shonna also smiled and waved at the little girl on my right a few times, and at the end Cooley came directly to her and shook her hand, then shook several of our hands too (big; warm; dry). So that was nice!

Set list:
1. Uncle Frank
2. Lookout Mountain

I’m gonna stop you there. THEY OPENED WITH UNCLE FRANK FOLLOWED BY LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. At that point I knew it was gonna be a great show, even good enough to make up for not playing Zip City.

I begin again:

1. Uncle Frank
2. Lookout Mountain
3. Three Dimes Down
4. Hell No, I Ain't Happy
5. Home Field Advantage
6. When the Pin Hits the Shell
7. Wednesday
8. Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife
9. A Ghost to Most
10. Righteous Path
11. Women without Whiskey
12. Opening Act
13. Checkout Time in Vegas
14. Sinkhole
15. I'm Sorry Huston
16. Where the Devil Don't Stay
17. Puttin' People on the Moon
18. Eighteen
19. Ronnie and Neil
encore
1. Assholes
2. Shut Up and Get On the Plane
3. Let there be Rock
4. Buttholeville


When Cooley started Pin Hits the Shell I was astonished. What a treat! I almost expected Patterson to follow up with Do It Yourself! Women Without Whiskey and Where the Devil Don’t Stay were the big Cooley-flavored treats of the night. Utterly satisfying. Puttin’ People on the Moon was another highlight - the place just exploded at that point. We were totally in their hands.

"Assholes" was a new one, too - it was pretty funny. I strongly suspect it was about their former label New West.

The only down spot might be “Wednesday” - I guess I just haven’t taken to that one. If they’re gonna do one from that album, I’d prefer Feb. 14 or Aftermath, personally. But ah well. And of course I always want to hear Zip City. Uncle Frank and Zip City are always high on my list.

Here are 25 pictures. I took some of these, and J took the camera for a while and took some really good shots too, so a lot of these are probably his

The band:


Neff:


Shonna:


I love Shonna. She’s such a cutie.






Cooley:






This was one of my favorite shots:






patterson:















patterson & shonna



cooley & shonna

No Line on the Horizon

I love this album already.

If you know me, you probably know that I'm a big U2 fan. (ask me about the time I met Larry Mullen Jr.)

So I tried to brace myself. I've been anticipating this album since approximately the day the Vertigo tour ended, and one hears strange updates from time to time. I've had so many fears about this album, especially hearing the word 'experimental' used so many times. I have nothing against racket - one of the things I love about Wilco is what an unholy NOISE they can make - but production-wise I guess I like a cleaner, less dense sonic signature than some. Generally. Like I'll always prefer 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' to 'Zooropa' and 'Pop.' that might sound self-evident, but there are those who disagree!

so I was fairly frightened of this album. 'Get On Your Boots' didn't reassure me very much - it was pretty thick and, well, not a great song.

I've been through the album only one time so far, and it's silly to love it already, but I do. Not really in spite of the production, and certainly not because of the production, but kind of existing alongside the production.

Bono really sounds like he's singing all-out sometimes here. I like how (as on the last two albums) they've refrained from fixing up his voice; it's getting a little worn sometimes, but it sounds very honest and true when it cracks a bit here and there (not too much, thankfully). While there is a lot of noise going on sometimes, it's not all the sound of eight guitar tracks and loops; there's totally a 'Joshua Tree' guitar tone to be found here and there, and some tasty stuff that verges on the semi-clean. and I have no complaints about the drums and bass. I think Adam Clayton gets better all the time. (My husband would mention here how far he had to go, of course, to which I say 'hmph'.)

so there's my preliminary $.02.

big head todd & the monsters, the pageant, 1/31/09

Big Head Todd was our second show at The Pageant since they closed down the second stretch of I-40/64 for the big repair project. I'd been dreading that so much! We used to take the Clayon exit, turn right on Skinker, and then we'd turn right on Delmar and circle around to the parking lot.

So at Cheech & Chong we took the MLK and did a kind of convoluted route through downtown to Market and then Lindell, over to Skinker. It wasn't bad, but (1) it seemed to take so much longer, because we got off the highway so soon/didn't get back on the highway for so long, and (2) really would be a terrible idea if there was a football or baseball game that day - we could get tied up in that traffic mess and really be screwed.

So this time we took the grand/forest park exit and took forest park parkway to DeBaliviere, then left on Delmar and into the parking lot from the other side - we had trouble deciding where to turn off Delmar, but it worked out great. Then on the way home instead of trying to go left out of the parking lot and go back to Delmar, we turned right and then took a left on Skinker as always, then turned left on Forest Park by the coffee shop there (we could've taken Lindell, I guess, too) and took Forest Park all the way back out to the highway. That worked really well. I was hoping to find a route where we could stay on the highway a little longer, and also one that wasn't too cumbersome, because we're going to have to use it for the rest of the year.

I miss my Clayton exit!

Anyway, the seats were filling up when we got there, but the floor was open. We grabbed a seat in the under-21 section at the aisle and waited, with some other guys who were obv. waiting to move to the floor too- it's weird there, nobody wants to be the first guy standing out there all alone, but once the seal breaks, it's broken. finally at about 7:30 we moved down front and center right in front of Todd again, which is cool. Last year we chose seats, but the year before we were front/center. it's such a trade-off, because the sound isn't great up close - in fact, it's the opposite problem you have at a lot of shows, because Todd's in this phase where he's not playing through an amp, so you don't get a blast of guitar at your head - you get stage sound, but not enough guitar, from so close. however, it wasn't as loud as a lot of shows there from that angle, so that was okay too.

Great set, too: they went kind of long, which was awesome.

1. Julianna
2. How Easy
3. Heart of Wilderness
4. Love Betsy
5. Strategem
6. Spanish Highway
7. I'll Play the Blues for You (albert king cover)
8. Conquistador
9. Broken Hearted Savior
10. Wearing Only Flowers
11. Fortune Teller
12. Love Transmission
13. Silvery Moon
14. It's Alright
15. Runaway Train
16. Dirty Juice
17. Ellis Island
18. Please Don't Tell Her
19. Flanders Fields
20. Bittersweet
21. Helpless
22. Secret Mission
23. Cruel Fate
24. Her Own Kind of Woman
25. Circle
encore
1. All the Love You Need
2. Rocky Mtn. Way

I saw a set list online and it had Resignation Superman and something else instead of Bittersweet and Helpless. I would have loved to hear Resignation Superman, but NOT at the expense of Bittersweet! They also had something else for the second encore song, but Todd broke into Joe Walsh, which apparently I can name in ONE NOTE.

There was a nine year old kid behind us, and it wasn't even his first concert. The guy next to me and I stood a little apart so he could see - he was too short to get right up by the stage and be able to see anything! The stage is kind of high there. There was one of those annoying entitled drunk chicks who barged in front of him for like one song and seemed like she was arguing with the guy next to her. then she tried to talk to me but twice I was like "I can't understand what you're saying" and the third time I just ignored her. It was 'Circle,' for christ's sake. she was really slurring. then she popped up behind J taking pictures with her cell phone, but holding it kind of over his shoulder and in his face, so he finally pushed it away and she got all irate. (drunk girl voice) 'you roooned my video! I wasssnt even touschin you!!' *eyeroll*

I just loathe people who feel so entitled and have no conception of other people's space. I mean, I sound like I feel entitled too - I feel entitled that you keep your freaking hands off me and not cut in front of me or ruin the show for me by hooting in my ear or whatever. But secondly, if you want to be down in front, try showing up early like I did. it's totally uncool and cheating to weasel your way through and try to squeeze in and then be all 'giggle giggle, whatever I do is okay because I'm a princess.' screw that.

at the end I asked for a set list and the guy said "sure, just a second, I'll see if I can find you one." then he went over to the bassist Rob's area and carefully pulled up his set list and handed it to another chick. I hope he just forgot which chick was where, but I was VERY disappointed.

anyway, good show, and my new camera did okay. The majority of the pictures are still pretty bad, but the good ones are better than the good ones on my old camera. If anyone has any concert photo tips, PLEASE SHARE THEM. This is like my main photography interest, not to say obsession, and I'm tired of disappointment. I have a fairly good point and shoot, but it's still not an SLR. I think looking up into the bright lights and shooting a moving subject is just too much for a less-than-professional rig, but I'd love any advice or insights. how do you fare, taking concert pictures? what's your experience been?

these are a few 'bad' pictures, which were pretty standard with my old camera too:










and these are the best ones:

my favorite huckster

Okay, yes, the SHAMWOW!! infomercials have been all the rage for a while now.

At first I rolled my eyes and tuned out VINCE. Another annoying pitchman, another 'not sold in stores' item nobody needs that they do carry in stores. I have astonished my husband with my inability to hear or notice something on TV right in front of my face if I'm not interested, so it was easy enough to Not Pay Attention to VINCE.

Then one day I actually watched some of it. And again. And suddenly it was hilarious! I couldn't believe such a shady-looking, shyster-type huckster (thanks for the word idea, shannon!) was LEGIT. Who would buy anything from this guy?? My favorite bits are when he says "I'm gonna do this in real time!" As though one can do something NOT in real time - what is he, a time traveler? EVIDENTLY NOT. Plus "You know the Germans always make good stuff!" and just the pace of the whole thing. Cut it in half, use it on your dog, olympic divers use these, and incessant use of the word COLA.

Suddenly I LOVE it!

Then my husband said he thought he saw VINCE in another infomercial pitching some OTHER product. NO NO VINCE would not two-time his beloved SHAMWOW!!, I thought.

Then on metafilter the other day someone posted some links! all about VINCE!

First of all, of course, there's VINCE's wikipedia entry. Imagine my surprise when I learned that VINCE apparently OWNS SHAMWOW!! and the other thing, which is THE SLAPCHOP!!

Coincidentally, just a day or two later friend Shannon sent me the youtube link to VINCE'S commercial for THE SLAPCHOP!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUbWjIKxrrs

I will not even ruin it for you by quoting my very favorite line of the whole thing. But my other favorite thing is when VINCE offers to throw in a second gadget for free if you buy THE SLAPCHOP!! When I saw the name of this second gadget, I had to pause the video while I laughed for a while. HYSTERICAL.

Going back to the metafilter links, I was surprised to see two very different takes on VINCE and his life and career:

This person portrays VINCE as 1. maker of one of the worst movies ever and 2. a loser who deals with failure by blaming others via lawsuit.

Whereas this person offers a VERY DIFFERENT TAKE on VINCE and portrays him as a budding filmmaker and entrepreneur STRUCK DOWN IN HIS PRIME by a prudish CULT!

The hell of it is that I now feel the overwhelming need for both the SHAMWOW!! and THE SLAPCHOP!! based on VINCE's superior pitchman skills. Not to mention the Second Gadget referenced above!!!

Chong, featuring Cheech

Last night we went to see Cheech & Chong in STL. Reunion tour = Light Up America. heh.

This is the first event we've had after a slow couple of months, which is often the case in the dead of winter - but things are starting to pick up, we have tickets to a couple of things in Feb. already, so the usual late winter/early spring rebirth of my recreational life has begun.

We stopped to grab a bite less than halfway there, and the weather wasn't great - kind of sleety - so we debated turning back, but the tickets cost kind of a lot (considering!), and I hate to be chicken, so ...

turns out the worst of the weather was behind us, and on the way home we drove into it again and drove the last hour in falling snow, but the "roads were clear," as they say, and more importantly dry and non-slippery.

anyway. I had fun and I'm glad we went. Tommy Chong's wife opened, and while I liked her in the documentary about his trip to jail, she really wasn't all that funny - let's face it. She did have a funny crack about, when he was in jail, thank goodness for conjugal visits - if Cheech hadn't come by every week, I'd have gone crazy! ha ha ha. anyway, short but sweet, and then the main event.

let me say, it's so surreal sometimes when you see in person people who are really famous and have been for nearly as long as you can remember. you get used to them fast, but it was a funny moment for me when Cheech came out. He was wearing his up in smoke garb - undershirt, red hat, you know - so first they did the 'cheech gives chong a ride and they smoke a big one and then chong accidentally gives him a massive dose of acid' bit from up in smoke, which was awesome. they also did Let's Make A Dope Deal, which went off really well too. there was a sketch where chong was the husband and cheech was the wife and they went to a porn movie, which was fairly funny, and sounded kind of familiar - especially when, after describing various fairly icky debaucheries they were supposedly watching, chong said "oh, man, don't look at the screen, they've totally ruined it - they brought in a black guy," which was such an awesome commentary on the whole race thing that we really were too uncomfortable to laugh as heartily as it deserves, but I say Bravo.

what else, OH and one where Chong was an old man on a park bench and Cheech was an unsavory type who came and sat next to him and they bickered until Chong pretended to have a heart attack and freaked cheech out ("I'm on probation, you f***r!") a bit where Cheech was an astronaut, and a sketch where the two of them were dogs (cue the poop and humping jokes), and a number of musical interludes, including a classic Blind Melon Chitlin bit (two songs, I think) and something J recognized where Cheech was a character from one of the movies where he'd played his own cousin, a kind of country singer? with the most hilarious American Accent? which was very funny (okay, I know, my 'haven't really seen that much of their stuff' is showing, but really I knew more of it than I thought I would, even if my descriptions are really Killing The Funny). also the bit where Cheech is the rock star in the tutu, oh, you know what I'm talking about (" ... but I don't listen to her 'cause my mind is like a sieve!", oh, how I love that line), and Cheech's song "Mexican-Americans," which ought not be funny (like so much other stuff). There were several kind of Tommy Alone doing some standup parts scattered throughout, enough so we felt like it was less cheech and chong than Chong, Sometimes With Cheech. a lot of that was the real pot advocacy, though. I respect cheech for getting over himself and letting himself get back to his roots and enjoy a little healthy pot humor, but the real advocacy portion of the proceedings was all Tommy (predictably), and he talked a little bit about the going to jail thing, too (I was in jail with my fan club, man, all I did was sign autographs and pose for pictures).

overall I had a good time, I was mostly there for the majority of the show, which was the pot jokes and music. like many of us, I have mixed feelings on the mexican humor generally, but let's face it, some of it was very funny. Also, I feel like we as a society should be past the 'black guys are well endowed' jokes, but ... hey, a hundred percent of any performance doesn't hit home with a hundred percent of the audience, right? I mean, this is coming from a chick who just paid roughly a dollar a minute for an evening of bong jokes, so ...

so we had a nice ending with the traditional singalong. I took my smaller camera and most of the few pics I took were disappointing, but here are a couple at the end:





Also, you know, Cheech is Hurley's dad, so that was funny.