The Dead Weather 7/13/10

Last night saw The Dead Weather kick off their summer tour at the 9:30 Club in DC. I missed them the last time they played here but I am glad I caught them this time around. The band's front woman, Alison Mosshart was all over the place singing her ass off to some heavy bluesy songs while Jack White alternated between singing/drumming/and even playing guitar. The band themselves had an explosive energy that carried all their songs without much delay between them. The sound was amazing and although I've seen a few sellouts at the club this show felt more packed. It was truly a rock and roll show to the fullest and my ears are still ringing and my head is still banging!

National Marathon

So I signed up for the National Marathon in DC next March. I always say I'm never running that far again but this will be the 3rd one I've signed up for since I said I'd do no more. It should be good as I'd rather be cold than hot while running, and lately being outside has been a total running bummer! Got the Woodrow Wilson Half Marathon in September so I'm going to have to get on a treadmill soon. And that would suck but that seems like the only option at this point!

Uncle Sam Jam 7/4/10

Happy belated 4th of July! Hope everyone had a great weekend. Started off the weekend with a walk off Nats win again the dreaded Mets (suck) and watched some UFC that night. For the 4th a whole gang of us went back down to SW to catch the Uncle Sam Jam at the Zanzibar. It was super hot but luckily all my friends (and beer and pizza) were on the side of the building with all the shade. The main stage was melting! Good Dos Equis & 105.9 sponsors giving out schwag was pretty good and everyone seemed to have a good time. Got to see Soul Asylum (of "Runaway Train" fame) for a hot minute before we took part in watching Brooke and Heather run through a "quicksand" mix in honor of a "Most Interesting Man In The World" contest. It was pretty good. Once it started getting darker we ventured to the patio deck and watched the DC fireworks and called it a night!

Wavves 6/25/10

Well I guess it had to happen, my first California Surf Punk show. I got here a little late after Wavves came on at the Rock And Roll Hotel and the kids were already stinking. For a non sell out it was a pretty wild show and I successfully avoided all moshing DC teens by taking in the show from the aging hispter perspective: against the wall, PBR in tow. Wavves themselves played a good, if not loud, show featuring smoke and banter in between consisting mostly of covers of tv shows. They played the Bayside High fight song. I'm not really into punk but got drawn into the "King of the Beach" after I heard "Post Acid" off the unreleased new album. All in all it was exactly what a punk show was: loud, fast, and pretty stinky. Rock on.

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival 6/19/10

Ahh the 3 magic B's that got me through college! How I was able to miss this annual alcohol and food festival last year is beyond me but I am glad I smartened up and attended this year. We got to National Harbor an hour early for lunch and watched the rest of the non VIPS wait in a terrible line that stretched from the festivals entrance to what seemed like the Gaylord Hotel 3 blocks away. Once we got in though it was well worth the wait. For something in the $35 range (average wine festival price) we had unlimited tastes of bourbon and beers under hot sweaty tents next to hot and sweaty people. And it was hot! That must have kept the lines short for tastes because I saw people chilling under trees and sitting at tables all day. They had some moderately good schwag, got two koozies and movies tickets and a t shirt. The best part of the day is when the staff wasn't looking we snuck into VIP. They had booths inside and better food and much needed tables and once inside no one questioned us. And we got some actual piggy, BBQ'd and served! Very good all around day despite the heat which reminds me: who's got a pool???

Copa Mundial 2010

I'm sorry I haven't mentioned the World Cup yet. And it sucks that I have to start on the heels of the worst soccer call I have ever seen! That phony no call goal that was disallowed was worse to me than the perfect game tag. At least that ump explained why he made the call. This joker had no idea what he was doing, but fortunately England tied their second match giving us control of our own destiny. Stay tuned, that Algeria game is going to be huge. I mean the photots say it all. Check out the goalies face, what a punk ass! On a happier note, isn't it great to have the World Cup back? I mean the games are early and you didn't even have to miss game 7! Hooray!

Surfer Blood 6/16/10

First off don't stand next to the speakers! Last night's show was good but my ears are still ringing! Lessons learned I guess. Florida's Surfer Blood played to a sold out Black Cat show last night in their final stop on tour with The Pains of Being Pure of Heart. despite the initial sound shock of standing too close the boys, looking like high schoolers, ripped through their Astro Coast release. They played "Swim" and my favorite "Floating Vibes" and their songs sounded like a lo fi takin' it easy surfing summer time vibe. Good show and after hugging The Pains for their final show together they got their lead singer to play guitar and sing along to a great cover of Weezer's "The Sweater Song". C'mon everyone knows the words to that song.