Dog Days of Summer: Favorite Summer Activity

Cool another blog fest! I am participating in the Dog Days of Summer Blog Fest and I plan to post one each day of the Fest since there are three topics. The first one is Describe Your Favorite Summer Activity thus far..

Hmm..a lot of what I do I do year round. The top of the list is being a dad. So, I guess my favorite activity so far was being able to take my daughter fishing. She turned five in April so she was at that age where I could safely take her fishing without worrying about her snagging herself with the hooks. I snagged myself so I guess there isn't a really safe time for that.

Here is her first fish:



Obviously I like the concerts in the amphitheaters, however I am lucky enough to see concerts pretty much year round. Though this summer has been pretty cool with concerts, I've been so busy with them I decided not to pursue to many festivals. Being the cool Dad I am I brought my daughter to her first real non festival show..



I also am scheduled to take her to a concert per her request, a popular kid's band so stay tuned I will post about that concert later this month. Tomorrow's post will be about what activities I plan to do before summer is over...

Olympics: USA Vs Japan Women's soccer

The USA Women's soccer team won the Gold Medal today by beating Japan 2-1. Winning provided the team a little revenge for losing the World Cup last summer to Japan. I am glad it was another good match between the two teams. I am also impressed the teams attracted over 80,000 for the game. I think it was great day for the sport overall. You can read a recap here.

I don't know why the sport struggles to sustain itself in the pro levels in the USA. The girls have had success on the International scene and they create a brief buzz. Maybe it is just that soccer as a whole struggles here. However, the girls have skills and I am all for women in sports. Especially if it is something they excel at and is something entertaining to watch. Maybe one day..

Here are some Olympic highlights...

some more..

Well be back soon

The Dukes of September

Even in August, The Dukes of September sound pretty awesome. The band is led by a trio of singers. One is Donald Fagen the vocalist and keyboardist and half of Steely Dan, Michael McDonald who used to be in The Doobie Brothers, and Boz Scaggs who used to be in the Steve Miller Band. The backing band is pretty much Steely Dan's backing band and studio musicians. They presented a wonderful two hour show packed full of their hits and personal favorites. You can read my review here.

Here the band covers Steely Dan's Pretzel Logic...

Here they cover some classic soul with Love TKO...

They closed with song..

There are three other tunes lined to my review. I wanted to mix it up for my blog as I always try to add a little something extra when shamelessly promoting something I wrote. I hope you enjoy and I will be back soon,,,

Happy Independence Day and Olympic Medals Celebration for Jamaica

Congrats Jamaica on your 50th anniversary of your Independence! Usain Bolt gave Jamaica something else to celebrate when he won the Olympic 100 meter dash in London over the weekend. He might win another in the 200 and some other events. Teammate Yohan Blake too the silver to give Jamaica more to celebrate.

Here is some highlights...

Here is a parade from 2010..I am sure this year's will be bigger and better

Fun times in Jamaica ahead!

Jerry Seinfeld

I got to cover Jerry Seinfeld at the Kennedy Center. I ended up being doubled book for the night. So, I helped the band I manage set up for their gig in Hagerstown in the afternoon and navigated my way to Washington by 7PM. That my friends was comedy enough!

It was a treat since I rarely get out to see comedy. The last big name comedian I saw was George Carlin on his last tour. I hope this isn't Jerry's last one. Other than that I went to a comedy club in Florida and I watched a comedian open and emcee a jazz show in Jacksonville. Plus getting to go to the Kennedy Center for anything is pretty cool!

Chuck Martin, probably better known for producing and writing Arrested Development opened the show. He was pretty good at stand up and a wise choice for an opener.Here is a clip Chuck is in...

Everyone knows Jerry from his show Seinfeld. I had no clue he was 58! He has been doing stand up since he was 21 so he has a bit of experience. Anyway you can read my review here. Here is a clip of Jerry from 2008 talking about airports..

It was a great show if you get a chance check it out!

Anonymous the good Samaritan

Some where along the way I had dropped my driver's license. I didn't even realized I had until I opened my mail box. Inside was an envelope addressed to me. There was no return address. I opened it up and inside was my missing license and a note. The note read I found this while mowing grass. I don't know who found it and took the time to send it to me. However, it was nice of them and I wish them thanks. It is nice to know good folks still exist and it was a nice act of kindness by this anonymous good Samaritan.

Happy Birthday Jerry Garcia

Today Jerry Garcia, the guitarist, vocalist, for the Grateful Dead would have turned 70. Later this month marks the 17th anniversary of his death. 53 is way too soon to go. However, Jerry did have health issues I remember a Fall tour in the 90s that got cancelled due to his health. I was bummed, I had tickets to three shows on that tour.

I miss Jerry, since it marked the end of the Grateful Dead. Sure there are the splinter groups Further, Phil Lesh and Friends, Bob Weir and Ratdog. However, it isn't quite the same. The vibe is missing. I loved the peddlers outside the venue. If a fan bumped into you, they would say they were sorry and make sure you were okay. Yes their were drugs.  but you could say no and still be cool. They even had fans the Wharf Rats who were sober.

I was about the music, still am. They used to put on a long three hour show and they would have cool opening acts. I remember seeing Traffic and Steve Miller open for them. Bruce Hornsby would join them in most shows I saw at RFK. You could see multiple shows since the band would change the set list every night. If Led Zeppelin was responsible for my exploration and love of blues music and guitar driven rock. The Grateful Dead were responsible for my acoustic, folk,  exploration.

I mean I love Jerry with the Dead, solo, and his bluegrass projects as well. 17 years later I know what is missing.

This is the Grateful Dead performing Casey Jones at the first Grateful Dead show I went to back in 1992...

Here is a different Casey Jones. Off of Shady Grove an album Jerry did with David Grisman. I love this album,,,

Here Jerry Garcia and his band covers Bob Dylan....

Jerry Garcia happy birthday, sorry you left so soon.