The Week

[blackleatherbookshelf]

It has been a roller-coaster of a week, which started nicely enough. Got to see Cheap Trick and Squeeze at The Mann Center in Philly. The corwd was pretty slim; the venue looked to be only about 1/3 full. It was also hotter than all get out, with both bands making jokes about it from the stage. While I had my camera, about the only postable shot I managed was of Chris Difford.

Squeeze played a very enjoyable hits heavy set, with a couple left feild surprises, like "Whan The Hangover Strikes" from "Sweets From a Starnger." Cheap Trick, on the other hand, completely eschewed hits in favor of a deep-cuts laden set. "Surrender," "Dream Police" and "I Want You To Want Me" were there, but they dug out songs like "Borderline," "The Ballad Of TV Violence" and their cover of "Magical Mystery Tour." I am also amazed out just how much energy they still have for a bunch of 60 year olds.

Work is chugging along fine. I am still hitting my production numbers to their satisfcation (about 20 commercials a night), but overnight work is wreaking hell on my brain. I often have to check myself to be certain of what day ot is, and the heat is making sleep dificult.

I was suprised to read of the death of Bill Aucoin, gay man and hard rock manager extradinaire. While he passed a couple weeks ago, I only heard of it a few days ago. He was a man who took acts like Kiss, Billy Squire and Billy Idol and shaped them into stars, as well as lesser acts like Starz and Virgin. One more person I have always wanted to meet taken off the list, this time by Cancer.

Cancer is also taking it's toll on my family again. After losing my Uncle Rick to the disease in April, my Uncle Mike is now in a fight for his life after having to undergo surgery this week. He had two tumors removed, and it was a very risky surgery. He is riding a very fine line as of this writing, having been taken out and back into Intensive Care. I am hoping he can keep the wolves at bay for a while longer, as there have been too many losses in our family alreay this year.

More to come as it happens.

Comments

[maxauburn.livejournal.com]

(((ULTRA-HUGS!!!)))

[tbrough.livejournal.com]

Thanks Max

[blachubear.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry you're going through this again with another Uncle. My heart goes out to you Tim.


It's a shame that legendary bands like Cheap Trick & Squeeze are being ignored. Either because of the economy, young kids don't know who there are or thanks to less radio and video airplay, these veterans get the cold shoulder treatment. And it's a dam shame it happens most of the time with great artists.

[tbrough.livejournal.com]

Thanks D.

[vamapper.livejournal.com]

I saw Cheap Trick at, of all places, the Brown County Fair in DePere WI back in the mid-80's. (They got good acts. The following year, we got Weird Al.) Put on a great show for the 1000 or so of us who showed up. Even stranger, I almost got to see them back in 1975, before they were discovered. I was attempting to go to school at the University of Wisconsin Madison and this girl who I knew lived in one of hi-risse SE dorms invited me to a Registration Week party. Why I didn't go is a long story. (I was being set up by her friend who was the roommate of the sister of one of my best friends. I wanted to date the roommate. Yes, at 19 I was still trying to be hetero. I'm better now. But I'd have liked to have seen the band then.) Never seen Squeeze. But I do like them and to have gotten them in a double-bill with CT would have been great. I wouldn't have cared which band opened.

[tbrough.livejournal.com]

My second time for both bands. I saw CT a in the weeks just before "Budokan" broke hugs at a college gymnasium. About a year later I saw Squeeze opening for Elvis Costello around the time of "Sweets for a Stranger."