RobbyB

Rev It Up, Baby

2004-03-30T05:09:13Z

Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" has inspired me to compile songs for a "Rev It Up, Baby" mix CD, the antithesis of my "Chill Out, Dude." You know, something to get your toe tapping, and fingers grooving. So far I've got some good ideas, but have stalled to finish the list. This is where y'all get to sound off and suggest possible songs. Nothing is set is stone, so feel free to comment. Note: I've tried to limit to rock songs, staying away from hip-hop, but haven't ruled out anything as I'm on the fence about Outkast's "Hey Ya!". Here's my list:

Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl

The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl

T Rex - 20th Century Boy

Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At

Black Crows - Hard To Handle

Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows

The Hives - Hate to Say I Told You So

The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Around the World

James Brown - Get On Up (Sex Machine)

Elvis Presley - A Little Less Conversation

The Kinks - Everybody's Gonna Be Happy

The Ramones - Hey Ho, Let's Go!

Music Sales

2003-11-26T16:13:29Z

Something I got at work generated some interesting conversation. Here are the top 20 Selling Artists from 1991 to present, while the SoundScan tracking service has been in business:

20. Dave Matthews Band
19. Reba McEntire
18. Various Artists - NOW, That's What I Call Music
17. Eric Clapton
16. Tim McGraw
15. Aerosmith
14. U2
13. Pearl Jam
12. Alan Jackson
11. N'Sync
10. Shania Twain
9. Pink Floyd
8. Backstreet Boys
7. Kenny G
6. George Strait
5. Mariah Carey
4. Metallica
3. Celine Dion
2. Beatles
1. Garth Brooks

Noticeably absent: Elvis Presley. Do you see anyone else?

Dave and Mother

2003-07-08T03:31:41Z

I hit the brakes and came to a stop, faster than comfortable, but slow enough to be in control. The road was still slick from the severe storm we just drove through. The parking was within sight, but we weren't moving. The kids ahead were already out and throwing discs and footballs. It was 3:30 in the afternoon, and the evening had just begun.

]]> While waiting, we named all the characters performing around the car. There was Mother Nature providing the weather, Mr. Tool, the venue employee, smoking by the side of the road between downpoors. (He later became Mr. Information.) There were Misses We-don't-know-how-to-throw-a-frisbee-but-will-flirt-and-still-think-we-are-the-cutest-girls-here, the sisters three who pee, and the disappearing yellow shirt girl. All fit within two categories: the hippie kids and the Gap kids. Most of us were Gap kids, with an Old Navy boy thrown in here and there.

Two hours later, we moved the only distance the impatient cars vacated in front of us. Our subs were gone, the Strawberry Blonde was throroughly rejected, and patience was running thin. Mr. Tool turned Mr. Information was kind enough to share that eight people had been struck by lighting inside the parking area and was closed to allow for a helicopter to land and take off.

Dave and Mother Nature both put on excellent shows. Dave with the music, Mother with the fog. The latter started to rise from the trees in the hills as remnents of Mother's storms flashed in the distance. Dave continued to rock, and the fog rolled in. Soon it filled Alpine Valley save the are filled by the crowd. It hovered peacefully and added a smoke effect to the entire ampitheater.

After, we were the jerks driving around the lines and cutting in front, but who really wants to wait three hours to get out what took two hours to get into? The peaceful fog had turned menacing blanketing our way home, but we were able to fight through it to get home safely. All in all, a great night.