Hartamophone

This is a great video from 1986 that I found on another board.

Frank Zappa on CNN's Crossfire.

Here's the bried write-up from jambands.com:

The Benevento/Russo Duo continues to work its way into the Phish framework. Last night, at South Burlington, VT’s Higher Ground, both Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman joined the paired performers, along with an additional series of special guests. First, the Slip’s Brad Barr joined the Duo onstage, adding guitar to much of the group’s set (an old friend of Marco Benevento, Barr performs on Darts, the Duo’s first release). Next, Fishman emerged, marking the first time the former Phish drummer has performed with the Duo. During the Duo's encore, Fish returned with Gordon for “Mike’s Song,†with Jazz Mandolin Project’s Jamie Masefield and Mad Dog also appearing on the song's outro jam. For those keeping score at home, Page McConnell has also jammed with Benevento, Russo and Gordon when the trio played Higer Ground on December 30, 2004. In other Duo news, the 2005 Jammy winners have made a new track from its studio forthcoming album available on its homepage.

Damn I love Higher Ground. Such a great room in such a wicked town, and "everybody" who isn't too big plays there. Throw in the frequent guest appearances by four of Vermont's Phinest and I don't think you could ask for much more in a venue. (Hopefully I'll be basking in the guitarmonies of Mr. Forrest Richard Betts there next month).

The best places around here are in the Gatineau Hills, obviously. There are old dirt service roads you can ride if you don't want anything too technical, but the hardest stuff is probably at Fortune. I don't recall if you can take the lifts up or not, but if you're up for a climb, there are some screaming downhill runs.

I feel like I just saw "the man behind the curtain" in The Wizard of Oz. I wonder if he still has his redneck superpowers when he takes the glasses off.

Does anyone around these parts ride?

I got pretty into a few years ago, but haven't done much over the past few seasons. I'm looking forward to getting back into this year though, as I head to the mountains for the summer with a new bike (Trek Liquid 55).

Anyone else?

However, his field piece interviews are always hysterical - like the ones he does when he highlights state districts.

I find his field pieces to be categorically lame. It doesn't take much in the way of wit to take advantage of someone who thinks they're taking part in a serious interview, just to make yourself look funny. To each his own, though.

I find Colbert gets really old, really quickly. The O'Reilly Satire would work well as a nightly segment, but when he builds a whole show around it, I just get annoyed with it in a hurry. Different strokes for different folks, but I'll choose Stewart over Colbert any day.

No Hasek in the playoffs would make me very nervous, especially given that a lack of proven playoff goaltending was a key factor in the Sens not bringing it all home in either of years immediately before the lockout.

Man, I'm psyched at how this team is making things happen down the stretch despite their depleted numbers. Domenic Hasek should be buying Ray Emery a Benz right about now.

One of my all time favorites.

The movie is also really interesting.

Does every one know that Shannon was Axel Rose's cousin?

And that you can see him singing back up in the "Don't Cry" video? (I'm pretty sure it's "Don't Cry". Definitely a post-Appetite GnR video).

but yes, to be fair it would be impossible to totally eliminate from our lives the daily consumer connections we have to horrible companies. But, since we can't be perfect, we can choose to avoid those companies that simply tower over all others in their grotesque, evil ways.

But what I was trying to say above is that it's sometimes literally impossible to avoid Wal-Mart. Even if one chooses to shop elsewhere, when Wal-Mart obliterates small towns all residents feel the impact in a huge way. You can choose not to drink Coke or use Microsoft operating systems and programs (although the latter can be quite tough), but when Wal-Mart paves over independent and smaller businesses, the element of choice is completely removed, especially for lower-income families who don't have the means to shop elsewhere.

My question to you is...

How many other horrible corporations do you support by purchasing from them?

There is absolutely no way I could live the life I want to live without supporting horrible business practises. I assume 99% of you have Windows installed on your computer right now. Look at what Microsoft does.

I think it's a stretch to compare Wal-Mart to Microsoft. Granted, Microsoft is a ruthlessly competitive corporation (to the point of elinimating competition) much the same way Wal-Mart is, although you'd have a hard time convincing me that Microsoft decimates small towns and abuses the majority of its employees in much the same way that Wal-Mart does.

I think the problem with Wal-Mart is that it gets to the point where its impact is pervasive beyond the point of some people being able to avoid it. When my friends and I have driven down to TN for Bonnaroo a couple of times, we've hard a hard time finding places other than Wal-Mart to buy our groceries. If you don't want to support Microsoft, Coca-Cola, etc., you can often choose not to. Unfortunately with Wal-Mart, it can be practically impossible to shop elsewhere or avoid its impact.

I heard a statistic this weekend (and not from a "friend's friend", but an academic souce, though I lack a link) that stated that while Wal Mart creates approximately 130 jobs when it moves into a community, roughly one hundred more than that are lost as a direct result of it moving in.

Yep, economic saviors they are.

oh he's happy, but he remembers the half full ampitheatres from last summers tour....

so, now he books with more members from phish, so folks will now go into each show 'hoping' maybe this will be 'the show'...

how much do u want to bet there will be guests each night?

I'd say it's almost a sure thing that there will be guests each night, but I really don't think that Trey is intentionally firing up reunion speculation just to sell tickets.

Trey is not hurting for cash, and I think he has shown with his last couple of tours that he just wants to go out there and make the music that he wants, free from the shackles of "Phishdom". If he wanted to fan reunion rumours for the sake of ticket sales, I think it would be pretty obvious.

Reliving the glory days on stage hasn't been what he's been trying to do since the break-up, and I really don't think he's ever alluded to that (in words, setlists or opening acts/special guests), with the possible exception of Utica '05.

Aslan's Song (which I didn't know it was called at the time) is one of the most beautiful new pieces of music I've heard in a while. Can't wait to get my paws on a copy.

Here's to ya, brother. I think I heard you saying something along the lines of "Best birthday ever" at the end of the show last night. Can't imagine there could be a much better way to ring it in.

Happy birthday!

Oh my good God.

There was definitely American appreciation for "If I had $1 000 000", even though it came later than in Canada. I know this because of a story shared with me by an American of being freaked out while spun at a BNL show and seeing dozens of boxes of "mac and cheese" flying through the air.

So like many of you I've had my share of jobs to this point in my life. Some of them have been traditional, 9 to 5 types, while others have been of the bartending or retail variety that require work outside of the traditional industrial work week.

At times, I really enjoy being on the "same" schedule as "everyone" else, and knowing that when nighttime or weekend events pop up that I'd like to partake in, work won't conflict.

On the other hand, it's great to have a couple of days off in the middle of the week to travel to a random show or spend some time skiing or hiking when the trails are empty. As I'm putting together employment plans for the next several months, I'm wrestling with what my preference is between these two options. There are pros and cons to both, and I've never been able to declare a clear preference.

So, do you prefer (or currently work) a traditional work week, or do you relish the unconventionality of working some evenings and weekends, and the time off that comes with it?

The lineup ain't pretty, it just looks that way.

I'd have to say "Hasn't Hit me Yet" is one of the most universally loved songs in Canada. And you're right, I don't know that it would work the same anywhere else.

If we're talking Lightfoot, while my list would include a chunk of his tunes, I think it would be damn near heretical if "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" wasn't mentioned.

Did anyone listen to the series on CBC radio about a year ago that took on this very exercise?

Cool, thanks bouche. Either way, I'm really looking forward to it (and hoping to match up some more skanc names with Ottawa faces).

Personally, I give out money when I can.

Also, when friends of mine raise the "He/she is just going to spend whatever money we give him/her on booze," I often point out that many of us have been in positions where we've been nearly flat broke and have spent an inordinate percentage of what little money we had on nights out.

I'm not trying to get on to a soap box about this, but I think sometimes those who do have the opportunity to offer up some change lack a little perspective.

Will Dave Lauzon be jamming with the Sisters, or is it more of an "opening" slot?