The Bands I Grew Up With

I’m convinced I’m going to get a little older and I’m going to forget everything I used to know.  Alzheimer’s doesn’t necessarily run in my family (as far as I know), but I have a poor memory as it is.  If I don’t chronicle these types of things, they’ll be lost forever.

One day, I’d like to look back on my writing – having forgotten everything I’ve ever experienced and ever written about – and smile with a twinkle in my eye.  Oh yeah, I remember that …

Here’s a list of bands I grew up adoring.  My musical heyday ranges from probably 1988 through probably 1994.  Oh sure, bands have come after; just like I eventually came to appreciate bands that came before.  But, this window, this is where it’s at.

These bands aren’t necessarily my FAVORITE bands, but they’re among them.  And some of them probably are.  I’m using my iPod to help out with this, because if I tried to go off of my memory alone, I’d surely leave out a few.

Camping 2011: Riffe Lake Campground Review

We hit the road around 11 on Thursday bound for the Riffe Lake Campground.  Boy, was THAT ever a mistake!

It had been a couple years since the family has had a chance to get together around a campfire, thanks to scheduling malfunctions and the utter lack of a quality campground to visit.  The eternal struggle is to find a place that’s equidistant to both Tacoma and Yakima, to find a place that’s on some form of water that’s easily accessible, to find a place that’s a group site so we don’t have to go to sleep at 10pm.  Turns out two out of three IS bad.

Outside Lands 2011: Two Days & A Phish Concert

I landed in San Francisco late into the evening on Thursday.  8, 9 o’clock; I was the last of the four guests to arrive, as we’d come staggered throughout the day.  Paul, Scooter, Andy were all waiting for me at the Elbo Room, which is just down the road from C-man’s apartment.  There was a chill in the air, and I had forgotten my jacket.

I was encouraged to take the BART and I’m glad I took it.  Granted, every subway system pales in comparison to New York’s; but coming from Seattle, the BART is a revelation.  Maybe if we didn’t dick around for the entirety of my life, I wouldn’t be a retired man when Seattle finally has the light rail going to such BART-esque lengths as the Eastside, the U-District, Capitol Hill, and all the rest of the neighborhoods.  But, I digress.

C-man met me on the street when I got off the BART; we walked back to his place so I could drop off my shit and take four shots of whiskey.  Five minutes later, we were in the Elbo Room and I was trying the first of two Moscow Mules.  They were ALL right.  The rest of the night was spent bar-hopping with great precision.  The highlight being:  our good friend Daniel flicking coasters at the bottles of liquor behind the bar after receiving a vodka/soda that wasn’t to his – or, really, anybody’s – liking.  After nearly a dozen, the bartender finally took notice (“Hey, engage me!”) and took the coasters away.

4-West Camping 2011

The month of August, 2011, isn’t necessarily going to be the best month on record in the life of Me, but it’s going to be pretty fucking good.  Between last weekend’s camping trip, next weekend’s San Francisco trip, and my family’s camping trip two weekends from now … (not to mention Labor Day weekend with a day of Bumbershoot, a day of Husky football, a day of Fantasy Football drafting, and a day of rest?  hopefully?).  Actually, I’m only a blowjob from a disease-free prostitute away from making this August the best month EVER.