My Rock & Roll Lifestyle

I had front row tickets to Guns n' Roses through work on Tuesday. To give you an idea of how good the seats were, Taylor Hawkins, the drummer from the Foo Fighters, was sitting a couple rows behind me. I have to say, Axl looked better than I thought he would, and if it weren't for the dreds, he'd almost look like himself circa 1993. Went with my boss, and one of our artists, William Tell. You may recognize his track Slipping Under from current American Idol promotions.

Sebastian Bach opened, and unfortunately he's the only one I have a picture of, since venue security at the Gibson Amphitheater was yelling at everyone who pulled out a phone during the GnR set. His version of 18 and Life was one of the most exciting songs I think I've ever heard from an opening act. Also had backstage passes, which was a first. It's not like there was much to see backstage, except a bunch of other people with backstage passes. There was free booze, which was nice.

Axl certainly isn't doing this thing on the cheap. The band featured three guitarists, two keyboardists, a bassist and drummer. It was noted that one of the keyboardists was likely just handling some of the programed backing vocals. In a truly old-school rock move, each guitarist took a 5 minute-plus guitar solo, as did one of the keyboardists. Given that none of them were named Slash, it was more than a little excessive. It was worth sitting through for the classics.

Speaking of old-school rock moves, as early as the Sebastian Bach set, multiple girls in the open area in front of the stage took their tops off, popping out their girls repeatedly throughout both his and GnR's set. Sebastian seemed right at home with it, though surprisingly Axl looked a little weirded out, and never really mentioned it. For those wondering, I would estimate the girls in question were about 8 years old when Appetite for Destruction came out.

In other celebrity news, I saw Danny Strong, who played Jonathan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, at the Bed Bath and Beyond in Santa Monica today. Something must have paid pretty well, because he was driving a really nice BMW, which would seem beyond the means of a small part on a WB show. However, that IMDb profile is accurate about the 5'2" part, he was really short.

Damn I'm Old

Well . . .

After nearly a week and a half of being 30 years old, I have to say its not so bad. Granted, I've had plenty of time to get used to having gray hair already. But I'm rather pleased with the increasing number of people who now call me "sir" (as in "sir, I'm afraid we have to ask you to leave"). I know someday I'll have to switch to saltines and metamucil instead of saltines and gatorade to keep my strength up, but for now being 30 doesn't seem much different from being 29.

In other news, I spoke with Bradley Boyle. He is, in fact, still alive (or at least as alive as one can be in Toledo, OH). Other than that, not much seems to be new with him.

Apparently there is no Calendar section of the New York Bar

Reed, November 14th was 3 weeks and one day ago. That's when you last posted (or commented). However I approve of your bachelor party idea and look forward to the results.

Do I smell bacon?

TMQ realizes that all those evening aerobics classes in Village A E302 were worthwhile.

Calling out Mr. Carey

Reed - more than a month wait for a response to an email is too damn long. We need a batchelor party this spring whether you choose to be involved or not.

Hoyas - Perhaps I've just appropriately lowered my expectations, but even when we were up in the first half I didn't realistically think this team was gonna take down Duke at their place. Even the eggregiously bad calls didn't phase me much, since I figured it was all part of the plan. Hopefully the team can use a big win over Oral Roberts as a rallying point this year. I for one and quite looking forward to the matchup where Roy goes against an 800 foot Jesus.

Eddy - Our first official visitor from the east (even if he only came from the central time zone). Methinks you have been in the educational environment too long if you're still frequenting the underage bars of SLU. Stay away from my younger sister.

Brad - Does anyone remember laughter?

Schisa - if your new york football jets take the last playoff spot away from the bengals by going undefeated against the easiest schedule in football over the next month I am going to start calling for a BCS system in the NFL. Clearly they would be Boise St. That and the whole NFC would be division 1-AA.

Alan - admit it, your alterego on hoyasaxa is venom.

Patrick - which losing presidential candidate are you going to work for this time around?

Y. Lupu - Why not?