Shackles of Youth

Vicky didn't ask me if I wanted to go see REM. The conversation went something like this:

Vicky: Want to go see Modest Mouse & the National??

Me:  Yeah, sure.  Where are they playing?

Vicky: June 19th at Madison Square Garden. They're opening for REM.

Me: Ooh!  Yes!   

Now, I haven't bought an REM album since I don't know when. (Automatic for the People, maybe?) But if you ask, I'll tell you that Life's Rich Pageant is one of my all time favorites. And then maybe I'll laugh and talk about listening to Fables of the Reconstruction while lost somewhere in central Jersey and Debbie having a panic attack in the backseat of my car and literally rending her garments because if she was late getting home again she was going to be grounded forever. My ringtone when Debbie calls now? Driver 8.

Or maybe I'll tell you about sitting on my bed with my boombox, obsessively stopping, rewinding and replaying Document until I had deciphered and transcribed all the words to It's the End of the World As We Know It.

Or about the time Michael Stipe came into Tower and bought Bruce Springsteen's Ghost of Tom Joad album (which is, in my opinion, not one of the Boss's better efforts). He asked for directions to a camera shop and my friend Anthony and I proceeded to get into an argument in front of him over the best way to get to the shop that was just around the block. He smiled, thanked us and as he was walking out the door I overheard him say to his friends, "We're never going to find it. Let's just go back to the hotel." Sorry about that, Michael.

So yeah.  The band pretty much provided the soundtrack t o my youth.  Anyway, here are pictures & a setlist. Pretty great, huh?

And while we're on the subject, take a look at Pop Songs 08, Matthew Perpetua's quest to "write about every REM song, eventually."

Catch you all later...

My ride's here:

Weekend Tourist Fun

I love when my extended family comes to visit, because they're fun and I don't get to see them very often. And because it gives me an excuse to do touristy things that I normally wouldn't, like go to Top of the Rock. Here's the view to the north:

And to the south:

Step aside, Empire State Building, got to make room for Jersey in the photo. I also enjoyed the room with the motion-activated, light-up walls, which answered the age-old question, "What if Tron was sponsored by Target?"

Then I bought a Battlestar Galactica coffee mug in the NBC Universal gift shop. Because I am a geek.


Thanks to my awesome cousin Pam, who totally hooked us up with tickets. That's the great thing about being a tourist in your own town- someone can usually get you on the list. And Aunt Maggie, Aunt Mary Ellen, Becky, Lyn, Ainsley, Beth, Carlin, Amanda and Eliza? I love you all and it was great to spend the afternoon with you.

I wish I could speak Portuguese.

I cannot stop listening to this compilation:

While cleaning. While cooking. While getting ready to go out. Always. I've come around to the fact that every task is made better if you hum Bat Macumba while you do it. Try it, you'll see.

The Bronx Museum presented a great exhibit on the Tropicalia movement about a year ago. If you missed it, you missed out.