Category Archives: music

October 4, 2009 · 8:57 pm

Satellite radio and the simulated voice in my car

Lux_Audio_prem_audio_sys

I recently got a new car with a fancy tech package. This crazy automaton woman is constantly announcing stuff all the time. Frankly, sometimes I could choke the bitch.

But lately she has been the subject of some entertainment.

When the audio system is on (I don’t know, we used to just call this the damn radio) she feels compelled to announce the name of each station as if the big bold letters on the dashboard screen are not enough. The car has XM Sirius or Sirius XM or whatever the name is these days. I was spinning around the dial showing Gary how she says all sorts of station names because some of them sound really funny in her mechanical voice. Like Soul Town, that one is hysterical, so I made her say it a few times in a row until he almost smacked me in the head for kicks. Then I tuned into Underground Garage, but on the screen it is abbreviated as Undergrnd Garage. She pronounced it without the ‘ou’ and I realized that she was doing a character recognition voice simulation kind of thing.

That is when we heard the funniest one of all: Jam_On. Or as she called it Jam Underscore On.

Wait, are we the only ones who find this sort of thing amusing?

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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August 14, 2009 · 10:48 pm

Woodstock Celebration

I was just shy of 10-years-old during Woodstock, yet somehow I always felt a part of it’s generation. The music, the vibe, the sentiment; it all carried over into the seventies during my teen years becoming the soundtrack of who we were. Hippies at heart, I suppose.

I am fortunate enough to live in a town where a great disc jockey and rock historian also resides. Pete Fornatale graced us with a lecture and Q&A followed by part one of the Woodstock movie at our public library, another jewel of this town.

In thanks to Pete I will plug his book, Back to the Garden, which looks like it should be a great read.

And just because every time I see this video I laugh, I will leave you with this hysterical ‘translation’ of Joe Cocker’s Woodstock performance.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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August 10, 2009 · 10:46 pm

Time To Cry Tuesday – A Rock Icon

NYC. Hottest day of the summer (by at least 10 degrees). Summerstage in Central Park. The Pretenders.

An amazing night that, even in the heat, reminds me why being too far from NY would never work out for me. The people, the energy, the music. Made me all sentimental in a wow I forgot how much fun the summer in the city can be sort of way. Certainly not a real Time to Cry Tuesday, but screw it. I made the series, I can break the rule once in awhile. So if you feel like really crying today, think sad thoughts.

A little known Amy fact: If I could be any rock ‘n roller I would hands down, no contest want to be Chrissie Hynde. And it would not even have to be the Chrissie of years past. At 58 she can still rock the house. The passion is still there, her voice is amazing, she looks great, and seriously, who does not love a girl that can play guitar like that?

Here is something I did not know, but of course Dr. Jimmy did and pointed it out. She is a strict vegan and animal rights activist. She still owns a Vegan restaurant, The Vegiterranean in her home town of Akron, Ohio (as in ‘I went back to Ohio, and my city was gone’). Note the sign at the concession stand:

pretenders-no-meat

I am not gonna lie, I think the drummer might have been dying for a burger but didn’t want to piss off the boss.

I digress. To Chrissie Hynde, not a diva (that has too much of chick connotation and this is no chick) but an icon who surely stands in the top 5 women rockers of all time. You did not disappoint, and you can rest assured that I still want to be you.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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August 4, 2009 · 11:06 pm

Supa Dupa Dread Kit

supa-dupa-dread-kit

Finally! A product that produces clean healthy dreads. How did I possibly live without knowing about his product? Take a little visit over at dreadheadhq.com and you will laugh out loud, “We are not just the owners of Dread Head HQ… we’re also clients”. Hmm, was that not the Hair Club for Men tagline?

I found this in Lake George of all places. I posted this picture on Facebook and immediately had two comments from people who had to own this product. Go figure, who knew it would make such a nice gift?

Back to the sales pitch. You have to love this one:

At DreadHead HQ we eat, sleep and sport dreadlocks….we love’em and we want to spread the dreads, letting people know just how much butt dreadlocks kick; as a hairstyle, as well as a lifestyle. We want people to know how enjoyable and rewarding it is to rock their own well maintained dreadlocks.

Um, how much butt dreadlocks kick? Yeh, that would be a nice suburban white kid’s take on a symbol of the Rastafari movement. Perhaps a little too heavy a diet of Bob Marley whilst in the crib? Come to think of it my daughter loved him as a kid. She used to go to sleep listening to Roots Rock Reggae on more than one occasion. And now that I mention it my son has a painting of Bob over his bed. And they did have a Jamaican nanny for many years.

Wait a minute, maybe I should have picked up a few cases of this stuff. You never know when a set of dreads might sprout in this very house.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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July 27, 2009 · 9:26 pm

Time to Cry Tuesday – Funny the way it is

late-show-theater

Indulge me one more Dave Matthews related post as tonight I had the thrill of seeing him live at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Yep, Gary and I not only went to the Late Show taping, thanks to a very special old friend, but got in for rehearsal and watched the band practice up close and personal.

Two Daves! What could be better?

Funny the way it is that one day someone is your assistant and you have them doing all sorts of ridiculous things like filling hundreds of little boxes with chocolate and tying ribbons on them, yelling at fed ex and making sure that the messenger has the right address; and then one day 12 years later they get you into the Late Show the night that Dave Matthews is on.

(or even funnier that I could think that last run on sentence was grammatically correct)

I am so proud of how far she has come in her career. And how effortless she makes her job look. She is one of the most entertaining people I have ever known, with a sense of humor that still takes me by surprise. You never quite know what will come out of that crazy mind. She was only a year or two older than my daughter is now when she came to work for us, and was surely the most over-qualified person to ever fill that position. It was a real joy to work with her.

People drift in and out of your life all the time. And if your lucky, they drift right back in and surprise you with how much you truly missed them.

Thanks SB, for a great time and a real thrill. I am so happy to have you back again.

Oh, and I am pretty sure Dave Matthews wanted to meet me, tell him I am sorry we had to rush out.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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July 22, 2009 · 11:47 pm

Why I Am


dave-matthews-band

Yes, I just got home from the Dave Matthews show at the beach. And yes, it reminded me ‘Why I Am’.

Just standing in the Jones Beach Amphitheater – even in the bad seats – on a July night, with the smell of the ocean all around me, I am quite sure this is ‘Why I Am’. Hearing the music I love (that I discovered before my kids, the DMB groupies, thank you very much) I realized there is nothing like a night like this to soothe the soul.

Listening to the lyrics of Dive In I was taken by the irony of one particular line:

“Tell me everything is all taken care of by those qualified to take care of it all.”

It occurred to me that I am usually that person.

Crap! I am screwed.

I guess that’s Why I Am.

(‘night all)

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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June 8, 2009 · 10:09 pm

Time to Cry Tuesday: Priceless

There are a handful of moments in advertising history that have touched the souls of those who see them. One of the more famous examples is the Mastercard Priceless campaign. This past week, one of my mommy idols could have starred in one of these commercials.

The scenario: The Dave Matthews Band was playing on the Plaza in the Today Show Toyota Summer Concert Series. Both my friend and her 10th grade daughter are huge fans of the band. In fact, they are a full DMB family of fans. This particular friend has found herself to be an unlucky member of the Sandwich Generation. Many of us are in the midst of raising children at the same time we are dealing with aging parents with health problems. Being an only child of a widowed mom, she is the healthcare concierge extraordinaire. Last week was a particularly harrowing one on that front.

Enter the opportunity to go into the city at some ungodly hour (3:30 AM) to stand in line for the concert. She was all set to take her daughter and a friend until the weather turned nasty and she began to rethink the event. At this point her college-aged son pulled her aside in a sage-like manner and told her that she would never forgive herself if she missed this opportunity of a lifetime that her daughter would never forget. (please note: said son aspires to be a documentary film-maker).

Funny how our kids spout back at us what we have taught them.

So, without hesitation, sporting rain gear of all kinds, off they went on the 3:30 train into the city. I received an early text telling me she was there. Within an hour I texted back that I had not only seen her daughter dancing on camera, but had DVRd it. Her daughter could not be happier. Until… (yes this keeps getting better)

…she screamed out, ‘Dave, I love you” during a lull in the performance and he turned around and smiled at her. Kind of like a young girl’s dream come true. Wait, it gets even better.

During the show they gave out foam guitars to the audience. The daughter’s friend was holding one. After the show, Dave came around and signed the guitar! And the friend? He decided that since he would not have been able to go to the show with out her, gave the guitar to this very lucky girl.

I know, Time to Cry all the way around. I love this story. Not only because the main character is one of my main women, but because every step of the way it was about what I like to call ‘the good stuff’. Truly a priceless experience.

Here is a picture of the two happy teens on the train ride home. The inset shows the Dave Matthews sig.

After-the-show

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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April 27, 2009 · 11:28 pm

Time to Cry Tuesday – Not Dead Yet

grateful-dead

“Look at these pictures of my son, Jerry Garcia Friedman”.

That was a comment from a women who was sitting near my friends as they waited for us to arrive at The Dead concert Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

Can’t make this stuff up.

There were those who scoffed at the idea of seeing The Dead sans Jerry Garcia. I could have leaned towards that camp but the desire to ‘go home again’ outweighed the purist in me. Perhaps he was there in spirit in the baby pictures of that old deadhead sitting behind my friends. Or maybe, just maybe, he was channeling through Warren Haines every so often.

Let’s face it. We all have the rhythms and melodies of our adolescence. The songs that can bring a tear to our eyes our a devilish grin to our faces. For some of us (and you know who you are Karen) it is Barry Manilow. For others (who are still friends with you in spite of that) it would be the cosmic meanderings of a good Dead song.

We are a tribe of sorts. We all went our separate ways but somehow that music makes us feel better when we hear it. And for those who are fortunate to have passed the love on to our kids, the bond gets stronger.

A few observations, some mine, some quoted from others.

“A Dead show is like going to Synagogue (fill in your religious affiliation). I don’t know if I necessarily believe, but I feel like I belong there”. That was from Dave. Very profound, my friend.

“I felt like I was eating the leftovers of a really amazing meal.” This one was from my son!! He was too young to have ever seen Jerry but he had to see what was left of the band. That 4th grade teacher had it right when she called him the happy go lucky deep thinker. Anyone steals that line and I will hunt you down. Not just because I am his mother, I think that line was brilliant.

Ok, here is the part where if you are not a Grateful Dead fan you may want to get a cup of coffee and move along.

Something that is NOT ok for a set list: Albama Getaway into Dark Star (what were they thinking?). Thank goodness they did not play that on Saturday.

Starting the second set with a 35 minute space Jam (oh excuse me Rhythm Devils) into Cryptical into Other One into Born Cross-eyed into St. Stephen was a bit too much. This was all a space head’s fantasy but this crowd was bored and talking. You can do that in the middle of set but to start, not so much. Almost a solid hour of way out there, even for someone who loves the sound.

What has NOT changed about a DEAD show? Tie dye, old hippies, dread locks, clouds of pot smoke, girls in long patchwork skirts (where do they pick them up nowadays), taking an 8-year-old is still a bad idea no matter how much you want to share with your kid and even if you have the most amazing seats (second row on the side of corner stage) the biggest, dancingest guy will always sit in front of you causing you to have to stand the entire show.

What HAS changed: most people had to take out their glasses to read their tickets.

All in all, I would say for a few brief hours I did go home again. Like Dave, I don’t know why but I just felt like I belonged.

And in these times there is nothing wrong with a little comfort food for the soul.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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February 8, 2009 · 10:46 pm

It’s an art school moron!

art-school

Ok, so now I am taking pictures of graffiti in public bathrooms. So what! It’s not like I am sitting on the toilet seat or anything. Jeez, don’t be so judgmental.

Sorry, I snapped there for a minute.

This out of focus commentary was found in the bathroom at a concert venue the other night. A very nice one I might add, tucked away in the sleepy town of Dix Hills Long Island at a place called Five Towns College. Twenty minutes from my house and I never knew this place existed. Go figure. Need to get out of the zip code more often.

So, back to the graffiti. I found this quite entertaining. “Why is this school so flippin’ ghey’!?” I had never seen the word ‘ghey’ before. As I have told the kids growing up, Gay is a sexual orientation, not an insult. Well apparently ‘ghey’ has nothing to do with being gay. Urban dictionary defines the word as ‘a derivation of gay meaning lame. meant to be non-offensive to individuals of a homosexual persuasion.’

The second line: “umm it’s an art school moron!”

Well, that about says it all. Writer #1, you have no business at an art school apparently, making you a moron.

Too funny.

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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February 6, 2009 · 11:40 pm

Making Lemonade from Dental Floss

frank_zappa

Any Zappa fans out there?

Today, after a long but highly productive and very fun work day out of the basement, I took an hour long train ride to meet Gary for a concert about 20 minutes from where we live.

Unfamiliar train station. Unfamiliar venue. Lost for 45 minutes in a 10 mile radius. Sounds fun right?

Luckily, I was too exhausted to get cranky and stayed calm.

We got to the show 45 minutes late.

There was one seat.

After 20 minutes, the ushers determine there was a broken seat in the row. Not our problem? Wrong. Printed on the ticket it says, “no seating after the show begins”.

So we sat in the back. And it was fine. The music was great and the venue fantastic. The Ed Palermo Orchestra is a must see for Zappa fans. And even if you are not, his big band arrangements of Zappa music is a real treat.

Moving to Montana soon, gonna to be a dental floss tycoon…

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.

For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.

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