FOMO and The Rolling Stones

I should've went to see the Rolling Stones last night. Instead, I erred on the side of fiscal responsibility (I'll probably find some other dumb way to blow money on something dumber than the Rolling Stones anyways). I didn't go and I thought I'd be cool about it, but I'm not. I checked Stubhub a few times yesterday. Nosebleeds were in the $170-$250 range. That's a ridiculous amount of money for me. I couldn't find it in me to go through with that kinda purchase, not for seats where the Stones would look like ants. It just didn't seem like a fair or wise investment. And can we stop calling them the cheap seats? They're no longer that. Maybe there was a day, back when the Stones were middle aged, when 'cheap seats' was a proper term. But that's no longer the case. If they were cheap, I would've went. The era of cheap seats was a golden time for concerts. The top of any stadium or arena would be packed with people who lacked funds but made up for it with heart. Maybe they wouldn't get to make eye contact with Mick or Keith, but they'd be in the presence of the greatest rock and roll band of all time and surrounded by like-minded fans who came to have a good time. Now that section is filled with big-hearted music fans who worry they might've financially bitten off more than they can chew. I regret sometimes being one of those dudes who complains that the Stones are too old. If we could all only be so lucky to be what the Stones are at that age. From accounts I've seen on social media, they were great last night. I'm not one to argue it. There's a magic to the Stones. They're not my favorite band, but I find it impossible to deny that they're the greatest rock and roll band of all time. A part of me thinks I should've taken the leap. The chance may never come again.

Donald Trump is a Cult Leader

I was thinking back on George W. Bush’s time as president and how a bunch of us would call him dumb and how he’d given us plenty of evidence, so much so that even some of his own supporters would say things like, “Look, I know what it looks/sounds like, he comes off dumb, but (fill in the blank with dumb excuse why he’s a good prez, like Iraq or his daddy). You get none of that with Trump. No admittance of stupidity, shame, or embarrassment. His supporters fully back everything about their loud mouth hero, glass of Kool-Aid in hand.

His followers put him on a pedestal and judge him by different standards than they judged other presidents of the past. Before 2016, I knew many Republican-leaning type people who would say that the Repubs were more “presidential,” than the Dems. That’d be their last leg to stand on usually when all else failed and they’d even use it sometimes to attack Dems (Obama’s tan suit/fist bump/jump shot were “so unbecoming of how a president should act.” lol).

 Trump also denies science like any good religious zealot and his people go along with it despite everything they ever learned in science class.

It’s also why he seems to enjoy the company and praise of despotic world leaders. They share way more similarities with your run-of-the-mill cult leader than all of these other democratically elected holders-of-office with temporary terms who were elected through reasonable and decent measures.

Other similarities to cult leaders:

He puts his name on everything.

He likes everything gold.

He believes he’s above the rules.

He has a record full of questionably weird sex stuff.

Solution:

You can’t debate with people who are in a cult. There is no reasoning with them. Instead we should free all the immigrants at the “detention centers” at the border. Round up Trump supporters and put them in there for deprogramming. Don’t let them free until they’ve changed their ways. Deny them basic things like soap and a place to sleep and you’ll know they’re cured when they finally call the place a “concentration camp.”

Happy birthday Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan does everything on his own terms and that's what's so cool about him. I don't think Dylan is living his life right if he hasn't upset you at some point. For instance, I love a lot of his earlier stuff. I love, 'Highway 61 Revisited,' so much, I got a tattoo. But I'm not much of a fan of his recent crooning and I've seen him in concert twice and both times it was kinda a snooze fest. But that's Dylan, the man who went electric and pissed off all the old folkies in the 60's. No one owns Dylan and he'll just keep on doing what he damn well pleases and even if you don't enjoy him, you should at least be inspired to live life on those terms.

North Bergen Mayoral Election

tomorrow the town I live in, North Bergen, NJ, will have its mayoral election. For the past few months my neighborhood has been plastered with unflattering election signs and posters and I've been ignoring the doorbell ringing and door knocking of political zealots who wanna sell me their candidate-messiah. My mailbox has been overflowing with junk mail gossip produced by the two candidates trash talking one another which I'm sure they both think is worthy of the trees sacrificed to print them. And there's no escape on my social media either because I'm dumb enough to like pages that have anything to do with this town. Tomorrow I will vote in the mayoral election because I think it's important to participate in gov't elections on all levels in America. But I'll be really glad when it's all over. Neither candidate has been heavy on substance. Mostly just a whole lot of shit taking. Not one debate. I think a couple of 6 year old's could've provided us a better showing of democracy. But it is what it is and it probably only feels important because I live here. I know whenever I drive through any other town and see their dumb mayoral window/yard signs everywhere, I think to myself, 'Who cares about these 2 nobodies outside of this dumb town anyways?'

chemtrail guy

I thought my biggest pet peeve about convenience stores was when I got stuck behind some lottery jerk who thinks Quick Check is their personal Atlantic City. But today I got stuck behind a dude who spent an extra 2 minutes after his transaction explaining to the cashier that the change in weather is due to chemtrails. The poor cashier was too nice to move him along. I'm a passive dude so I did nothing.

So anyways, I'm woke now and onto the gov't who obviously wanted today to be 5 degreess cooler than yesterday because that's how you control people, I guess? We now live in an age where changes in weather patterns are huge gov't conspiracies. We're doomed and time is limited. So please, keep it moving chemtrail guy and let me pay for my coffee.

Adam Sandler and why SNL is special

watching Adam Sandler host SNL reminded me of why I love watching SNL so much. Despite being fired and saying in interviews he'd never host, he ended up doing it eventually and telling the world how much SNL meant to him and doing something special.

SNL is always gonna be special to its cast members. Even when SNL is bad, it's still sorta special. It's still a collection of heavy hitting funny people giving their heart to a shared thing. We're constantly watching a cast that will end up representing comedy for the next 20-30 years blossom right in front of us. Sometimes they're trying things and failing, but a lot of times it's working and funny and you're too busy comparing it to 1977 to just sit back and enjoy.

Rest in power Peter Mayhew

This is a sad loss not only for the Star Wars community, but for the tall community as well. Being Chewbacca is probably as famous as a tall person can get without being really good at basketball. Chewbacca is the best Star Wars character and it's kinda cool knowing this dude was able to quit his job and make an honest living out of being Chewbacca.

Chewbacca forever. What a wookie.

Port Authority

Over the weekend me and Dani were in Port Authority and she was talking about how much Port Authority sucks and how she always tries to avoid it and I started thinking about how I hear a lot of people trash it and I wanted to play the contrarion and defend what I think is an important transportation hub for getting around NYC and beyond. Just as I was about to speak in this terminal's defense, I looked up to see a man peeing on the floor. He was in plain sight of everyone, not even trying to hide. I knew before the words ever had a chance to leave my mouth that my argument was defeated.

Two Boneheads

BACK IN THE DAY:

About age 16, I was going through this weird pseudo-intellectual phase where I'd do things like quote Nietzsche or make fun of religion. Y'know, super edgy and condescending. Me and my friends used to hang with this older dude Bill from time to time and Bill used to read a ton of philosophy books and I thought he was super cool because of it.

So anyways, there was this one time at White Castle (because that's where super deep, philosophical people go to eat), we were sitting down, eating some sliders and talking about Sartre or Descartes or post modernism or something. Super cool stuff. Then these two boneheads sat down at the table next to us. They were ratty looking relics from the age of glam rock. They seemed highly intoxicated and started naming hair metal bands from the 80's. They went back and forth, taking turns, laughing and whoa-ing and wow-ing after every band they mentioned. We thought we were so much better than them. Bill looked at them with disdain and me and my friends followed suit. I wanted to look cool in front of my philisophy crew but deep down inside I also knew that neither bonehead mentioned Skid Row yet and I'd be a fucking hero if I said it out loud.

Instead, I said nothing. But I look back on that day as a real turning point. I don't know what happened to the two boneheads but I bet they left White Castle and had more fun than we did. We talked philosophy but those dudes lived it. They didn't need to know about nihilism to know that we only got one life to live so you might as well live it well. You might as well pal around in a denim vest and live loud. They were living in the moment while we discussed Schopenhauer. What a bummer we were.

That was a long time ago. I don't know what happened to Bill and I don't know what happened to the two boneheads, but I hope they're still out there, way over the hill, going to see cover bands, drinking cheap beer, and naming all the bands they know on a podcast somewhere. That'd add much more value to the world than anything written by Hegel.

(some of the names in this story have been changed to protect identities)

The book review of the Beastie Boys Book none of you asked for

I just finished the Beastie Boys book and it could be the most I've ever enjoyed a book. It's like a mix tape, paces really well, with Adam and Mike going back and forth with short chapters. It feels like the book form of a goddamn Beastie Boys song. It's wild. There's a ton of guest contributors too that keeps it fresh. Lot of great pictures spread throughout the book instead of sticking them all in the middle. It's bittersweet that it's over. It's about 600 pages and usually I don't enjoy books that long. I don't trust a story that can't be told under 300 pages. But this was different. It went by fast, too fast. I wish it was the size of Infinite Jest, maybe more. I want more! I wish MCA was still with us. I wish the Beastie Boys were still writing silly rap songs in their 50's. I don't think I'll ever be over the death of a Beastie Boy. That shit will be sad forever, but in a good way I guess. Better to have had the Beastie Boys than not at all.

Beastie Boys forever. Thanks for the book.

Warped Tour

I was going to wax emo poetic about how this past weekend was the last Warped Tour on NJ soil, a punk-ish rock festival I haven't attended in well over a decade. I was gonna lament over the end of an era and succumb to the heavy nostalgia thinking about Warped does to me. But Warped hasn't put together a line up I wanted to see in a long time. And that's okay, it shouldn't. It should be geared towards young people, not me. Things are changing and as time passes, things become old and tired. Warped will be gone by the end of the summer and that's okay because that means it won't hang around and try to exist well past its own suggested expiration date. The kids will figure something out. CBGB's closed and rock and roll is still alive and well any night of the week in NYC. Something will always come along. The kids will be alright. I'll reflect on the past with fond memories but also accept my own wear and tear. I'm 38 and can no longer hang out in the hot sun for 8 hours and mosh all day. You can find me at the back of an indoor venue now, wondering if I'm the same age as the parents of some of these young punks, rockers, and moshers, just happy to know that even though it may not seem like it in the mainstream, rock and roll is alive and young people are still tearing shit up.

Pizza and Pop Podcast, Episode 12: Jukebox Heroes

Host Josh Wells and a panel of guests discuss all things jukeboxes. They cover a range of jukebox related banter and build a list of jukebox commandments along the way. Also, glory holes.

This episode's panel:

Angelique Londino- the Moses of jukebox Commandments
Cowboy Steve- jukebox owner
Zack Breheney- the king of Bayonne jukeboxes
Dani Mania- hates your jukebox picks


https://soundcloud.com/user-968319645/pizza-and-pop-podcast-episode-12-juke-box-heroes


 

Pizza and Pop Podcast, Episode 11: Dance Music

Host Josh Wells and panel discuss dancing, dance music, clubs, dj's, dress codes, the Chicken Dance, Funk Master Flex, and more.

Panel:

Kasey Coresh- hates the Chicken Dance

AJ Dunk-only one meeting the dress code requirements

Rob Garrison- funky white boy

Dani-Mania- <3 p="" robyn="" s="">

https://soundcloud.com/user-968319645/pizza-and-pop-episode-11-dance-music

Pizza and Pop Episode 10: Bands We Hate That Everyone Else Loves

Host Josh Wells and panel discuss the bands they hate that everyone else seems to love. We also learn that Jason Alexander was in a Nickelback video and make plans to go to a Jimmy Buffet tailgate (but not concert) and a Norwegian forest to watch black metal.

This week's panel:
Cha- great singer
Carlos- hates the United Kingdom
Hakeem- the most quiet of the panel drops the biggest bombshell
Dani-Mania- hates witch voices

https://soundcloud.com/user-968319645/pizza-and-pop-episode-10-bands-we-hate-that-everyone-else-loves

Pizza and Pop Podcast, Episode 9: Music and Movies

Josh Wells hosts a panel discussion about music in movies. Things get creepy, movies get spoiled, and Dani's mic doesn't work, but all in all, a very fun episode.

panel:

DiSalami- not his real name
Raphael Hernandez- reveals a dark secret
Gaby Avila- likes Dirty Dancing
Kasey Coresh- also not his real name
Dani-What's-Her-Face- new fake name Dead Air Dani


https://soundcloud.com/user-968319645/pizza-and-pop-podcast-episode-9-music-and-movies

Pizza and Pop Podcast, Episode 8: Chris Cornell/Early 90's Rock/Grunge Icons

Host Josh Wells and panel discuss Chris Cornell, early 90's rock/grunge icons, Lollapalooza, drugs, radio, and the movie 'Singles.'

panel:
Dave Durkin- went to all the cool concerts
Matt Reynolds- Perry Farrell kissed him
Jeff Wolf-vocalist/fitness dude who slummed his diet to eat pizza and drink beer with us
Dani What's-Her-Face- grunge baby

http://nerdopotamus.net/2017/06/05/pizza-pop-podcast-episode-8-chris-cornell-early-90s-rockgrunge-icons/

Pizza and Pop Podcast, Episode 7: The Depressing Episode

On this week's episode, host Josh Wells and the panel discuss sad music and movies, death, depression, and Kate Winslet's tits. It's more fun than it sounds.

This week's panel:

Max Antonucci
Chris Crespo
Rob Garrison
Dani What's-Her-Face

side note: This episode was recorded the day before the unfortunate passing of Chris Cornell, so there's no mention of him or Soundgarden. RIP Chris Cornell.


https://soundcloud.com/user-968319645/pizza-and-pop-podcast-episode-7-the-depressing-episode

Pizza and Pop Podcast, Episode 6: Hype Music!

Josh Wells hosts a panel discussion that covers a flurry of all things hype in music. Listen in as they discuss topics such as Taylor Swift, Rocky movies, sports jams, walk-out fight songs, and ponder if crunk is indeed dead.

This week's panel:
Chris Veloza
Patrick Wadleigh
John Sweeny
Dani What's Her Face (aka Josh's waaaay better half)

full disclaimer:
Chris and Patrick may have held hands during this episode.

https://soundcloud.com/user-968319645/pizza-and-pop-podcast-episode-6-hype-music

Pizza and Pop Podcast, Episode 5: Badasses

Josh Wells hosts a panel discussion about badasses in music. They discuss many, many badasses, including Lemmy, Johnny Cash, Amy Winehouse, Prince, GG Allin, and so many more. The panel also schools Josh on Blackie Lawless and Black Metal stuff.

This week's panel:

Patrick Scum of the Hudson County Scumbags
Anthony St. James, pro wrestler and member of the Bergen County Douchebags
Cowboy Steve A. of Dynamic Voice and Music
Dani R, the host's way better half


https://soundcloud.com/user-968319645/pizza-and-pop-episode-5-badasses

Pizza and Pop Podcast, Episode 4: Top 20 Selling Albums of All Time

I host a panel discussion about the top 20 selling albums of all time.

This week's panel: Raphael Hernandez, Murad Saleh, Justin Senno, and Dani R.

The Top 20:
1- Michael Jackson: Thriller
2- Eagles: Greatest Hits
3- Billy Joel: Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2
4- Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin 4
5- Pink Floyd: The Wall
6- AC/DC: Back in Black
7- Garth Brooks: Double Live
8- Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
9- Shania Twain: Come On Over
10- The Beatles: The White Album
11- Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction
12- Boston: Boston
13- Elton John: Greatest Hits
14- Garth Brooks: No Fences
15- The Beatles: The Beatles 1967-1970
16- Whitney Houston: The Bodyguard Soundtrack
17- Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill
18- Eagles: Hotel California
19- Hootie and the Blowfish: Cracked Rear View
20- Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti

https://soundcloud.com/user-968319645/pizza-and-pop-podcast-episode-4-top-20-selling-albums-of-all-time