I suppose putting this year to rest would be a good thing for me, since a couple of really bad things happened in my life this year.  Hoping for better things in 2023.

Belated RIP Terry Hall of the Specials.  

 I'm just going to say it.  I'm really happy Christmas is over.  Really boring holiday if you're Jewish, and all your friends who celebrate it are busy.

 

This is just ridiculous.  I'm seeing this Hitler quote on just about every Jewish-related video on Youtube that I go to.  If people think anti-semitism is not real, it is.  I may have been sheltered from it as a child and even in college, but the last couple years have taught me that I am just not safe anymore.   From anti-semitic comments and gestures from co-workers who didn't know I was Jewish, to swastikas drawn in bathrooms, and callers who go off on Jews, this is a really big problem.   That along with the most recent spamming from multiple people of videos of the news feature on my grandma.     

 I really wish the new Puss In Boots movie was a remake, so a critic could say "This 'aint your momma's Puss In Boots from back in 1976," and just be comparing the new version to the old one.  

This just in: The composer of the Twin Peaks theme passed away.  

Within hours of the news feature on my grandma being posted on Youtube, the comment section was spammed with alt-right antisemitic crap.

 

I'd like to take a moment to highlight a recent text thread with a friend of mine, in which he came to a rather bizarre conclusion that not only weirded me out but made me a little bit angry.  It seems like some people simply don't listen to anything you have to say.  I'm all for speaking less and listening more.  You become a better friend that way.

 

I found this part of a recently published NYTimes article to be particularly pertinent to these times... 

 

I definitely relate to the whole, I can't go out, I have to celebrate that Sha na na thing.  Also, Yosh Hashmana.  

So there is actually a lot coming out now of people slamming this as antisemitic.  Obviously, Dave Chappelle wanted to be controversial.  I personally feel pretty helpless when looking at how other people view the Jews, because although I admit to laughing at this stuff, I can see how it sort of just doubles back on all the usual stuff that Jews hear.  

I just work hard so that people don't really even look at the whole Jewish thing when they see me, but more-so just see me as someone who works hard. 

Jewish sensitivity is not something to be put down or throw aside.  Antisemitism is not just a problem for Jewish people, it is a problem for society as a whole.  

She spent 30 years in one of my favorite bands, Low.  I've had friends who just can't deal with an esoteric album or piece of art that is not for the masses, but their stuff was some of the most cherished that I own.  My favorite albums from them were probably Drums and Guns,  Things We Lost In the Fire, Double Negative, and Hey What. 

The drummer of Low passed away.  Always loved that band :(

One of those rare moments that I post something before actually watching it...Bono did a special rendition of "With or Without You".

35 albums I liked from this year....

1. Destroyer
2. Wilco
3. Spoon
4. Angel Olsen
5. Nilufer Yanya
6. Cat Power
7. Animal Collective
8. Kurt Vile
9. Florist
10. Big Thief
11. Cass McCombs
12. MJ Lenderman
13. Bartees Strange
14. Muna
15. Black Country New Road
16. Sharon Van Etten
17. Alex G
18. Mitski
19. No Age
20. Dry Cleaning
21. Plains
22. The 1975
23. Bill Callahan
24. Bjork
25. Arctic Monkeys
26. Band Of Horses
27. The Smile
28. Aldous Harding
29. Hurray For the Riff Raff
30. Charlotte Adigery/Bolis Pupul
31. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom
32. Junior Boys
33. Beth Orton
34. Lambchop
35. Dehd

I've been there from the start.  

In honor of the Phillies getting to the World Series for the first time since 2009, I'm posting my favorite video of the MVP himself, Bryce Harper...

 Just got back from a Stereolab concert.  As with most of the shows I go to, if you are into their albums, you appreciate the show.  Unfortunately I had a tough night at the show and wasn't feeling the venue.  But yeah that's that.  Still, happy to have been in their presence.  

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/stereolab/2022/franklin-music-hall-philadelphia-pa-5bb13f70.html

 Yom Kippur.  Not hot.  Not not.  Just meh.  

In other news, RIP Loretta Lynn.  She's one of those artists who I mention when someone says they don't like country music.  What about Johnny Cash? What about Merle Haggard? What about Willie Nelson? What about Loretta Lynn????

 Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur are always a time for reflection for me.  

It is also a time where I am being judged by a higher power.  

Pretty scary if you ask me!!

I feel like I am doing my part.  

Sometimes I wish others were too.  Maybe my expectations for my peers are too high.

 

I saw the very excellent Rock and Roll hall of famers, Roxy Music. 

St Vincent opened with a short but excellent set.    

Setlist for Roxy Music below:

Also, WXPN did an excellent recap: Recap here

I still remember when famous rock critic Anthony DeCurtis came to my college.  It was around when the first Arctic Monkeys album came out, and he mentioned them in his talk.

Pretty tough week at work.  Getting cussed at isn't much fun.  And not just once or twice either.  

Trying to get myself to her show this weekend.  

Wow this fairly obscure U2 song, which I actually remember from back when it came out because I pored over U2 religiously, features Salman Rushdie, and is named after his book.  All writers should have the ability to explore difficult and controversial topics without being threatened.  Very difficult to hear about the attack on him.  I actually own a copy of the Satanic Verses.

 It's quite interesting how the whole tone of everyone's opinion of Biden's presidency seems to be changing (not like I was ever a Biden hater.  I REALLY don't like when people start calling him senile.  That is just age-ism) now that he is passing the Inflation Reduction Act to help fight climate change. 

New music from Will Sheff.  I saw his main band, Okkervil River, some time back then.

I'll likely be missing out on their show this weekend.

Perfect new track from Titus Andronicus, my fellow Jersey people....

Loving Joel Embiid going viral dancing the hora, but maybe he should just sit down so he doesn't get injured!

Looking forward to a full length from Oliver Sim from the XX.

Happy pride month, all!

Honestly this week wasn't good.  Mass shootings are a part of life in the U.S.  It doesn't get easier to fathom when it happens again and again.     

I just got back from the Kraftwerk show in Philadelphia.  Hard to get to, and my knees were just killing me, but I have to appreciate what Kraftwerk do.  They gave out special glasses to make it a 3-D experience.   

 Videos are uploaded to YouTube so quickly after concerts!

 I've been trying to get myself my whole life.  As it becomes clearer, I do realize that what I fear is fear, and that there is a word for that: Phobophobia.  

Strangely, it only became a problem in my thirties...

 

I saw Philly's own, Kurt Vile, last night at Union Transfer.  Opening was the jazz group Sun Ra Arkestra.  They had a band member who is 98 years old.   

I am really into what Kurt Vile does, and have spent much time immersing myself in his catalogue.  So for that reason, I was really able to get into the show.  

I woke up to the news that there was a mass shooting on South Street last night.  3 people killed, 11 injured.      

I frequented that area so much way back when.  Imagine if I had been leaving the Theatre of Living Arts around 11:30PM and not Union Transfer...

 

I can totally see this happening in my family.  Except I would get sued for not being married, not having kids, not being a doctor, not being skinny enough, not wearing my shirt tucked in EVERY DAY ALL THE TIME, etc.. 

Then, I am always the first one to help whenever they ask me for rides, help with the computer, etc.  

 True story: Someone who I work very closely with at work has a boyfriend who is into Qanon related beliefs.  Whether he would have been there on January 6th trying to destroy everything my country ever stood for, I don't know...but I just told my co-worker that maybe she should try to help him, if his beliefs are not grounded in reality.

Jimmy Kimmel on this week's school shooting.  I feel fairly powerless about this whole issue.  

 Let's debate.  Would it be creepy for a guy like me to connect with a woman over Linkedin who I worked with approximately ten years ago, when I worked as a delivery boy, and she worked as a hostess, at an Asian restaurant?  At the time, she was a high school student, and she would flirt with me in unusual ways, like tripping me and pretending it was an accident.  Of course I ignored those advances, considering she was in high school and I was around the age of 24....

Now she graduated it seems, and she works as a software engineer.  

I've been on board with Alex G for a while.  Very excited for new music from him.

We will miss Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, and Kyle Mooney.  All are leaving the show.  

 

It seems to be getting harder and harder to enjoy live music as I get older, but I still do appreciate one of the top singer songwriters from my generation...

A small youth orchestra joined him on stage for this one.

I'm scheduled to see Jens for the first time in maybe 15 years.  

The last time I saw him, I had cornrows.  

 I am becoming a birder.  Went to my first birding event today.  Pretty fun, despite the rain.  

 I turned 36 this week.  36.  REALLY?  

"Congratulations on the anniversary of emerging from you mother's vagina" really got me.  Loving the Jimmy Somerville/Annie Lennox style music.

 I'm about to turn 36.  Is it time to reflect? My life has been a lot of delirious moments in the past few years, in which I don't want anyone to see me.  I just feed myself, do my job, and chug along.  My job is pretty much the center of my life right now.  I generally get awarded for working the most billable hours per month out of everyone in my department.  

Wilco is releasing a new one, one of my favorite bands.

My former high school band/choir/theater mate made a late night TV appearance again... 

Built To Spill, one of my favorite "acquired taste" bands.  Doug Martsch has a brilliant, technicolor mind.        

Breaking up with a friend

 I've heard mostly girls using the expression "breaking up" applied to ending a relationship with a friend, and not just used for breaking up with a significant other.  

I have trouble "breaking up" with bad friends.  Except this person is not just a bad friend, but basically a sociopath who just spews trash.  Why do I even bother with this person, someone may ask? I think sometimes loneliness causes people to keep friends like that.  But I'm hearing use of the n-word,  anti-Chinese things, statements like "I can sexually harass every girl at work and get away with it..."   

I mean, there have been red flags from the beginning and I've been good at keeping this person at a distance, but even that might not be enough....

 Isn't it coincidental, I was reading an article about social anxiety when I come across an order form for a client whose last name is "Aloof."  Maybe i should call up Mr.  Aloof and ask him if he has social anxiety...

 I reached the one year mark at my job.  I think overall it was a switch for me that made sense.  I am not performing physical feats at this job, like transporting loads of pallets stacked high with extremely heavy stuff, but I am dealing with people all the time, with loads of information that I need to keep up with.  

I've been there from the beginning with the Arcade Fire.  I remember picking up their first album when it first came out, my freshman year of college, not knowing who they were, or that they would become one of the most loved bands of our era.    

Long live Ukraine!

..and John Mulaney is back, and sober!

RIP Mark Lanegan

My first show since before Covid came.   The War On Drugs.   

I had a tough day before I ended up going.  

Overall, I think it had a good effect on me.  

I love this band for so many reasons.  Amongst the most heartfelt bands out there, and I think the whole term "dad rock" being thrown around needs to end because just because someone's dad could like it doesn't make something corny or safe. 

And also it is always fun when they close the gate of the parking garage for the night before you leave.

Setlist

SHARE SETLIST  

 

1. Old Skin
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2. Pain
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3. An Ocean in Between the Waves
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4. I Don’t Wanna Wait
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5. Victim
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6. Living Proof
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7. Harmonia’s Dream
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8. Red Eyes
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9. Brothers
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10. Come to the City
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11. Strangest Thing
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12. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    Play Video
13. Eyes to the Wind
    Play Video
14. Under the Pressure
    Play Video
15. Occasional Rain

In other news, Joel Embiid is a mensch.  An undrafted rookie, Jose Alvarado, picked up a technical foul while playing against him and got fined for the exchange.  Instead of harboring a grudge, he paid the rookie's fine, since that guy is probably on one of those 10-day contracts.  What a mensch.