R.I.P Jim Vance

Jim Vance was one of the longest running news anchors in the Washington D.C. area and perhaps anywhere else. He worked for 45 years at WRC TV. In that time he won 19 local Emmy Awards, was named "Washingtonian of the Year" by Washingtonian Magazine, and inducted into the National Black Journalist Hall of Fame.

Having lived in the area before I have many memories of watching him deliver the news. His employer must of felt the same way.

Here is attribute video..

Here is a blooper, where he can't stop laughing..

He was a great anchorman and the DC Area lost a local television icon. May he rest in peace.

A to Z Challenge 2016: Pearl Jam

Last week I made a crazy trip to Jacksonville mainly centered around seeing Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam had never performed in Jacksonville (a link to an article about that) and the last time I caught the band in concert was at The Tibetan Freedom Festival 18 years ago.

Here is the opener from that show, a long time ago at RFK....

  The show I went to on Wednesday received rave review in the local press and by Jambase. The show was much different. It was in a much smaller venue, the band like me is older, Pearl Jam played a lot longer.

Pearl Jam on stage...





Below is the setlist...

• Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
• Mind Your Manners
• Hail Hail
• Last Exit
• Lightning Bolt
• Nothingman
• Army Reserve
• Given to Fly
• Rival  
• Setting Forth  
• Corduroy
• Even Flow
• Of the Earth
• Glorified G
• Unthought Known
• Let the Records Play
• Spin the Black Circle
• Porch

Encore

• I Won't Back Down  
• I Am a Patriot  
• Just Breathe
• Jeremy
• Ghost  
• Do the Evolution
• Better Man  

Encore

• Smile
• Once
• Black  
• State of Love and Trust
• Alive
• Rockin' in the Free World  
• Yellow Ledbetter
• The Star-Spangled Banner  

Setlist from SetlistFM via Jambase.

Pearl Jam played close to three hours so they certainly put in the work!

Here is how they ended the show...

My favorite song by Pearl Jam is "Alive"

It was a great time to catch up with family, a friend and a show. I just needed more time for the trip!

Farewell Ken Beatrice!

I've spent enough time listening to sports radio over the years. The personality that hooked me on sports radio was Ken Beatrice.




Ken Beatrice picture from the Washington Post.

Ken was a radio personality in the Washington D.C. area for over 20 years. His show was among the very first sports radio shows I listened to in my early teens. Ah to here him say "You're next" as he took sports questions from callers. Sure, he might talk over a caller. He might repeat something over and over to drive his point home. It was all part of his style. Ken Beatrice entertained.

Here is part one of a three part career spanning interview..

Here is a tribute to Ken when he retired in 2000 from The Washington City Paper. The article is fitting for a second read with his passing.

He was a sports talk innovator, pioneer, and one of the best sports show host I have listened to in my life time. No one in my opinion has come close.

Prayers and thoughts to his family  and may he rest in peace.

Robert Plant-Washington DC 2-1-2011

I was able to catch Robert Plant at the wonderful DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC last Tuesday. Thankfully, the ice held out though the long ride home in the pouring rain was not fun. I first witnessed Robert Plant in concert back in 1988 in Columbia, Maryland. Since then I have caught at least one show on his tours except in 1993. I had tickets for a show but the show was cancelled. Robert Plant has been changing his music up in the 2000's and surrounding himself with great musicians. Here is a review of the show I published on Associated Content. Adding to the blog for the first time I am inserting a picture. Here is a picture of Robert Plant (you can barely see Patty Griffin) that I did not use. It was a fun show.

The Vendyrs

I haven't plugged one of my articles in a while. However, I wrote a review of The Vendyrs debut concert. It was for a charity event I was at. The band is a band of college age kids, who have a pretty tight musical feel to them. They have a 90s grunge feel to them. However, there music really does rock. I like what I heard from them you can read my review here.

They were great, playing for a great cause and were really nice guys. So, if your looking for a band in the Washington, DC area, Frederick, Maryland area The Vendyrs are worth a listen.

Latest College Rankings

As my wife would say who is not an avid sports fan "let me guess there was an upset." Well, like every week there is one, or two or three. Notable upsets this year, in week one BYU over Oklahoma. In week two, the Houston Cougars over Oklahoma State was a pretty big upset.

Week three had plenty. The Washington Huskies over USC, FSU over SMU, and Oregon over Utah. Who will be weeks four upset or upsets? I don't know. If I did I would be moving to Las Vegas. Oh well, that is part of the fun of college football. Unless it is one of your favorite teams that gets upset or you are in Vegas betting on that can't lose game.

These upsets are mking it harder to come up with My College Rankings. I did them anyway, you can check them out here. Don't worry they will change again next week.