This is perhaps my favorite concert DVD. I’ve owned it on no less than three formats (Laserdisc, Video Tape, DVD), and I actually have both versions on DVD. So I accept that I might be something of an extreme enthusiast on this one.
I’ve always loved Peter Gabriel’s music, and it’s especially great that his band includes such musical luminaries as Tony Levin (one of my favorite bassists), David Rhodes, Manu Katché, Shankar, Paula Cole, ‘Reddy’ Mela Amissa, Papa Wemba, Jean-Claude Naimro, Lévon Minassian, and ‘Styno’ Mubi Mutadi. The music is inspiring and beautifully recorded, and brilliantly staged.
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It’s more complicated than I can get into in a simple posting, but I’m a big fan of cephalopods. Blame it on Cthulhu if you like. One of my favorite animals has always been the wily cuttlefish.
But what makes life worth living is the strange colossal beasts that hide in the depths of the ocean. Again, you could blame it on Cthulhu. But in this case you can blame it on the giant squid that was recently hauled up from the inky blackness of the deep ocean. I’m bummed that this specimen is no longer cruising the ocean, but it’s amazing to see such a good photograph of an intact adult of this size.
A friend of mine from college has a nine-year-old son who is a total rock star and goes by the stage name Vincent Blackshadow. So far he’s played three gigs and they’ve all been pretty amazing. He has invented a KISS-styled makeup look for himself, along with a total rock costume complete with bowler hat. Take a look at some photos I took at his performance on 2/2/2007 in Burien.
Vincent plays guitar and belts out the tunes… what can I say? This is cool and I don’t think I EVER rocked this hard… certainly not at the age of nine. Vincent Blackshadow, I salute you.
Back in 1975 I became aware of KISS for the first time. At the age of 11 it was pretty much a perfect combination of forces: loud, scary, and completely parent-disapproved. There was also something really cool about the four characters in the band. Overall, it really resonated with me.
I freely admit that I still think KISS is pretty cool. And for pretty much the same reasons as before. Ultimately, either you get it and like them, or you don’t. No amount of explanation will convince you either way.
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