Gettin' back on the blog horse here. I was away last week, travelling to San Antonio for a conference. The hotel was on Riverwalk so I hung out there each night. Obviously, its a bit touristy though they have avoided having cheesy t-shirt shops and neon signs. Enjoyed sitting at a table by the river and watching the people/ducks/tour boats go by while enjoying a fine margarita or two. Went looking for live music in the Riverwalk and Downtown area on my last night there on Wednesday and all I found was a terrible classic rock cover band at Dick's Last Stand on the Riverwalk. It was three guys who seemed like they had decided to start a band the day before. Dick's actually had a decent band there on our first night, Sunday. It was a funk/blues/classic rock band and the singer and guitarist were very good. If you ever go to Riverwalk, be sure to walk north, away from the tourist stuff. Its a beautiful walkway along the river and I went for some nice walks there on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Anyway, onto this week's music. At the National on Saturday night, is Okkervil River. Okkervil River play a folk/indie rock kind of thing. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8, tix are $16 in advance, $18 day of show.
At the National on Tuesday & Wednesday, The Black Crowes come to town. The new album "Warpaint" has been getting great reviews. I saw them last August and they were excellent, mixing bluesy jams with some of the hits you know and love. I totally recommend them. I will unfortunately have to miss them as we are currently trying to save some $, unless someone wants to give me a free ticket (hint, hint). Bums me out, but I gots to do, what I gots to do. I believe Howlin' Rain is opening and their psychedelic heavy blues rock is worth checking out. Doors open at 7 both nights, show starts at 8 and tix are $35.50.
Other events you may want to check out this weekend:
First Fridays Art Walk - Friday (duh)
2nd St. Festival - Friday through Sunday
Richmond Italian Festival - Sat. & Sunday
Carytown Wine Festival - Sunday
Check out the Weekly Rant for more stuff to do.
In case you missed it, the first rock n' roll theme park, Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach filed for Chapter 11 after just one year. When I first saw the plans for this a few years ago, I thought it would be really cheesy. Then, I saw the Led Zeppelin roller coaster and I thought it might be cool. Then I saw the rest of the attractions and knew it would be cheesy. A kids section with giant teddy bears kind of dressed like Kiss? Creepy. A punk rock moon bounce? GG Allin is rolling in his grave. A ride based on an acid trip? OK, that might be cool if you were high, but I wondered, if you took acid and went on the ride would it be more intense or would the real acid trip and the simulated acid trip cancel each other out and make things appear normal?
However, I thought I would try to help them out and suggest some new attractions guaranteed to bring in those fickle tourists.
- A companion to the Nights in White Satin: The Trip ride: the Sid Vicious Heroin Experience. Travel through ghettos while trying to score. Don't get stabbed by those crazy junkies! Enough toilets so everyone can puke! Lie around on a skanky bed in a crappy hotel room with a 40-year-old hooker who's missing a few teeth for hours, lost in an opiate oblivion.
- The Keith Moon Cadillac Flume. Hop in a car that looks like a vintage 1967 Cadillac. Travel through out your American tour, from one drunken party to another. Finally take the exciting plunge into the Holiday Inn pool and get banned from the hotel chain for life!
-Yacht Rock Lagoon Cruise. Cruise to the soft rock sounds of Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, the Doobies and Steely Dan. Not too exciting but strangely satisfying and the the ride will stick in your head for weeks to come.
- Some new restaurants
-- Jerry Garcia's Pies of The World. "Wake up to find out that you are at Pies of the World / We've got blueberry and apple and also key lime."
-- Mama Cass' Hamaganza. Mmmmm. Ham sandwiches. And Heimlich Maneuver posters prominently displayed on every wall.
-Some new carnival games
--Keith Richards TV Drop. Hit the bullseye from 12 stories up and win a stuffed syringe for your honey.
--Record Industry Shoot 'Em Up. Shoot lawsuits at the housewives and college kids who illegally downloaded the latest Jack Johnson song. Ruin there lives for a guy they won't even be listening to in five years.
Have a great weekend.
Tony Jordan
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