The Living Rockumentary

I sent an email back to Ari to see if he could still get us into the Mercury Lounge with Pelicans and Azzerad. He asked if we have an estimate of people we could draw on a weeknight there in NYC. Everyone I would know would be an Ari friend too and may already be going to see Los Pelicanos. Was there a sizeable Steamtrain following that might be lured? Anyone else have clusters of fans clamoring for a SFTD appearance there? Compute your answers and tell me tonight at practice.

I'm redesigning a new activity page with some of the old stuff still on there plus some new things courtesy of Lori's suggestions and a Mad Lib I wrote as well. Finding it hard to fit it all on one page. Are two-sided activity sheets a possibility or too much trouble? Should I make it two separate pages stapled together and instead of calling it an "Activity Sheet," make it like the School For The Dead standardized test? Or is that getting out of hand?

Ken, I remember Belmont records well. Since we lived out in Sixteen Acres, I didn't get out to Baystate West much. However, that's where our dentist was so at least two times a year, I got to shop there and it was always worth it. They were one of the few places in Spfld. that had a sizeable 45 record section that had tons of oldies (which was my passion at the time) plus all the Beatles LPs, solo and together, in stock as well. The store that lived next door, Treasure Island, was also fun. Kinda like The Simpsons' Comics Dungeon, it had nerdy collectibles like baseball cards, comic books, rock & roll trinkets like dollar bills with John Lennon's face on them, monthly mags from the 60s featuring The Beatles, Monkees, etc. All sorts of stuff that even if I couldn't buy, it was fun just to look through/at.

Ken, I enjoy that NRBQ "Boppin' The Blues" album, too. Some of the Perkins'-less NRBQ numbers don't seem to mesh well with the more straight-ahead old-time rock & roll numbers, though both are fine on their own. And at times, I feel like the aggressive lead guitar playing is perhaps too abrasive for Perkins. His vocals are either on the sleepy side or just mixed kinda low overall, too. Little nitpicking there- overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable album but still all the ingredients didn't blend completely into one perfectly realized album. We can agree to disagree. Or disagree to agree, whatever the case may be.

Remember how I said my parents sometimes gripe that our TV-less house leaves me out of the loop? Well, Saturday, ignorant to the shuttle disaster that had happened earlier in the day, I went to Pintu's Indian restaurant in W. Springfield. The proprietor of the place was distantly related to one of the women on board and filled us patrons in on the events. Speaking of my parents, I took my Dad to the new Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday for his birthday (neither of us had even ever been to the old one) and then out to eat at the delicious Red Rose Pizzeria in downtown Spfld. I'm more of a baseball fan but I did enjoy the experience. And how did Pops like it? Over two hours flew by before he knew it and started itching for a cigarette (otherwise he lights up about every 25 minutes). I'd take that as a yes. The place is a good combination of historical museum and interactive games for kids and/or those who want to be like kids for a day (or for just 15 minutes of gametime, in my dad's and my case).

Finally, those who are interested can read our feature in Northeast performer magazine online at www.performermag.com. There's a link to it on that menu page.