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Six weeks of summer break from teaching is about to end.  On Monday August 12^th I go back to school for three days of orientation. Then we have the kids back in class for two days before the weekend.   As you can imagine, the time off flew by.  So here’s some of what I was up to.

Despite squirrelly weather with frequent threats of rain I spent most days at East End Pool. Hanging with my fellow adult swim regulars was the usual good time. However we lost one older swimmer who passed away over the winter, one had to be moved to an assisted living facility and another moved to Minnesota to be closer to her daughter and grandkids.   Still, there were newer swimmers to meet and the sun and splash of the pool proved to be as enjoyable as ever.  My skin got nicely bronzed and I hope to keep this tan until Thanksgiving.
I kept my vow to not wear long pants once, not even jeans and only wore gym shoes on two different occasions.  The rest of the time it was shorts, swim shorts, t-shirts, slides and flip flops.  It was right out of a song by Jimmy Buffett or Kenny Chesney.

There was plenty of Cubs and White Sox baseball to watch on TV and I found myself giving Netflix a one month free trial.  I binge watched all seasons of “Stranger Things” and caught documentaries like the one on the failed Fyre Festival and “Twenty Feet from Stardom” about career back-up singers.  I also watched all of Jerry Seinfeld’s new season of “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”, plus his special “Jerry Before Seinfeld.” Next, it was multiple comedy concerts from Sebastian Maniscalco, John Mullaney, Jim Gaffigan and I’m probably going to hell for laughing at the wickedly cruel wit of Anthony Jeselnik.  Yow!       

Plain and simple I can’t keep Netflix because there are just too many things to watch on that set-up. Netflix keeps me from doing other things like eating, drinking, sleeping and cleaning myself.  Put it this way, I already watch too much TV and having Netflix options at my fingertips is like asking R. Kelly to teach Sex Ed to teenage girls. 

There were only two movies I saw in theaters. The Beatles never existed comedy “Yesterday” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” I liked both of them but felt Tarantino’s movie dragged a bit.  Still, he DID capture the mood and feel of 1969 pop culture in movies, music and TV.  Quentin Tarantino makes movies people talk about and debate and that’s a real gift.

Later this week I’m looking to see a couple of late summer films; the Springsteen inspired “Blinded by the Light” and the raunchy “Good Boys.”  There are also two upcoming dramas I want to catch when they hit the local screens and both feature comedian Jim Gaffigan.  First there’s “American Dreamer” where he plays a bitter ride share driver turned kidnapper.  Then there’s this creepy snake handling religion film titled “Them That Follow.”  Check out the trailer for that one.

I fell in love with the new country music Super Group comprised of Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires and  Natalie Hemby, they’re called “The Highwomen” which is a nod to the “Highwaymen” that featured Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. The Highwomen’s debut album hits stores on September 6^th. 

‘REDESIGNING WOMEN” IS THEIR FIRST SINGLE BUT I’M EVEN A BIGGER FAN OF “CROWDED TABLE.”

I took care of home chores like water sealing my back stairs, getting the gutters cleaned and having a burned out car tail light fixture replaced.  Plus a handyman stripped and re-caulked my bathtub and shower.

Still, I hope to get more things accomplished during next year’s break.  Staying away from Netflix will be a help. Between now and the summer of 2020 I want to get into better physical shape. Then again I said the same damn thing at the end of LAST summer so let’s see how that goes.  On the subject of breaking bad habits, I got into a new song from country singer Justin Moore that covers that struggle, it’s called “Some Day I Gotta Quit.”

So if I were to rate this summer break, I’d give it the same grade I gave Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, a ‘B-’.  There sure is room for improvement and better summers.  Stay tuned for that.

SPECIAL NOTE-MY HIATUS:

Our overpaid and underworked members of Congress are in the midst of a recess from doing nothing in Washington D.C. so they can do nothing in their home states.  With school starting up again and new students and plans to adjust to, I’m taking a few weeks off from blogging.  I’ll be back with a new posting on Monday September 30^th..

Until then, you can still see and read my daily thoughts and opines on Facebook.

This Saturday August 10^th Mike Masse plays a concert at the Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago Illinois.  Tickets are $30 plus fees. All ages are welcome.  More info at https://victorygardens.org/#

So now you’re saying, “Who the hell is Mike Masse?” Fair enough.  I’ll share what I know about him.  Mike Masse is a YouTube star with millions of views of his work.  Now some folks gain fame on that site by doing stunts like the cinnamon challenge. Then there’s the daughter of my pal Al Flash who made a video of herself putting 100 layers of glue on her face. That little trick garnered a huge YouTube fan base that has earned her some pretty righteous bucks. 

Rather than doing something crazy stunt video that goes viral, Mike Masse plays acoustic versions of classic rock songs.  He’s covers songs from Abba and the Beatles to U2 and Neil Young and everything in between.  Many of Mike’s songs were recorded at a pizza place in Utah where he played on Monday nights.

Now you’re thinking there are hundreds of thousands of people uploading their covers of songs on YouTube, so what’s so special about Mike Masse?  Good question.  My first guess is the guy is a very accomplished guitar player and singer who instead of imitating the artists he covers, just pours out his interpretation of these well known songs.   My second observation would be Mike and his buddy put forth a comfortable vibe with no pretenses, just a couple of players who want to share some well classic hits with friends. 

How many friends are they sharing music with?  The Mike Masse cover of Toto’s “Africa” has just under 13 million views.  Yes, you read that right, 13 million views and it even earned them an interview on the WGN Morning News when Masse came to Chicago for a show a couple years ago. 

From what I’ve read on his website, Mike Masse and his family now live in Denver.  He was a successful public defender for years.  However demand to see live shows in the U.S. and even Europe has transformed him into a full time musician.  You can read more about his story at mikemasse.com

I could say more but would rather take the smart route and share links to Mike Masse’s music.  I plucked out a few of my favorite covers and if you keep your ears and mind open, I know you’re going to enjoy them like I do.  William Shakespeare once said, “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.”  With YouTube that is so accurate.  Play on Mike Masse.

AFRICA-     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLrC7e3vSv8

LONG TIME https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1jriAJ1KXw

DON’T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB762zPFh6c

MORE THAN A FEELING  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0rQ_XSlc9g

NEXT WEEK: A review of my 6 week summer break.

My cat Trouble turns 14 this week so I thought I’d write a tribute to my feline friend.  My mother and I picked out this one year old neutered domestic short haired cat at the DuPage Animal Shelter in late July of 2006.  They had a senior’s adoption special going on and since our new cat’s papers were signed by mom, the total fee to take him home was only one dollar! 

Trouble’s shelter name was ‘Chase’ and when we said yes to his adoption the whole facility was abuzz with exclamations of “Chase is going home! Chase is going home!”  The good folks at the shelter were really thrilled we picked out this little fella. They almost seemed over-excited, especially since we’ve rescued other animals from there and I don’t recall them going so nuts for another critter finding a furever home.

We gave Trouble his name because for the first day and a half of being at our house he hid.  We had no idea where he went until I lifted up a love seat and saw a sagging in the material ticking. I touched it and realized our new cat stashed himself up inside the furniture.  I laughed, pulled him out and held his furry face to mine, gave him a hug and gently put him down.  After that, he realized neither me nor my mom meant him any harm.  Still, a few minutes later he jumped on a shelf and knocked over a clock encased in glass that shattered into a thousand pieces. Our new resident then went on to tear up some papers on the dining room table.  I looked at my mom and said. “This one’s gonna be trouble” and with that we had his name.

For his first 4 years at my house Trouble shared the place with our pure white kitty named Dudley.  They got along O.K. and even sat together at times. However Trouble would never come into my room because Dudley had a little bed set up in the corner and our newcomer didn’t want to infringe on Dudley’s space.  I still don’t think Dudley would’ve minded.  In May of 2010 I had to put Dudley to sleep because of failing health due to old age. Only after then did Trouble ever come into my room.

Trouble was really my mom’s cat and his mornings were spent sitting on her lap as she read the paper or watched TV and had her coffee. He also slept with her at night and lounged on mom’s bed during daytime hours. My mother passed away in October of 2009. After that, his morning routine was permanently changed. There were times when Trouble would look out our front window for hours at a time and I wondered if he was waiting for my mom to come back home.
Trouble LOVES looking out windows and in the warm weather he’ll lean against the screens and sniff at the winds and outdoor aromas. He’ll also squawk out birdlike noises trying to attract birds with his mimicry. They never buy it. Still, this kitty has no interest in going outside at all, never. He’s the first cat I’ve ever had who is content to stay indoors exclusively.
Planted on a desk at the living room front window, Trouble will growl and hiss every day at our mailman. He also does this at anyone else who comes to the door. It’s like he’s a guard cat yet the minute anyone comes IN the house Trouble runs and hides. I have no idea why he shows such aggression to approaching strangers.
My guy Trouble has other quirks. At breakfast he inhales his quarter can of Fancy Feast in mere seconds. Trouble also loves bacon! The first time I brought home a McDonald’s bacon, egg and cheese bagel he came running and wouldn’t stop crying until I gave him a full strip of bacon. I never had a cat who craved bacon. When I pick up a take-out breakfast from Mr. G’s I always order bacon so it can be shared with Trouble.
When getting dressed each morning I’ll be sitting on my bed and Trouble comes jumping up and meows waiting to be petted and rubbed. He’ll nuzzle his face against my hands and won’t leave until he gets a good five minutes of undivided attention. Some of that must come from him missing the morning hang out routine with my late mother.

At night when I’m sitting at my desk surfing the net or writing, Trouble perches himself atop my easy chair as he looks over all that I’m up to.  He’s a great companion though his shyness keeps those who visit me from getting to know him.  When it’s time for bed, Trouble bunks near my feet but he never likes to be covered up with any blankets.  Sometimes when I nap I’ll wake up to find his furry face curled up tight against my chest.  Other times in the middle of the night I’ll hear Trouble sprinting through the house in the dark.  I have no idea what the former ‘Chase’ is chasing but it sounds like an intense time.

Three years ago Trouble had a little urinary tract infection that was healed in a week thanks to medication. Other than that, he’s been a trim, healthy and problem free cat. I’ve thought about adopting a companion for this kitty but he’s kind of set in his ways and doesn’t seem to be wanting for anyone new to join the household.  So we continue on, me and Trouble. I wish him a happy fourteenth birthday with hopefully many more birthdays to come. Meow!

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG- A concert of cover songs you should check out!

With the recent critical and box office success of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Rocket Man” it’s natural to wonder who are some other rock stars or bands that would make good subject matter for a big screen feature. 

The best movies about famous stars need several facets of drama.  With singers and musicians we’re talking about conflicts with coming from nowhere to mega-stardom and having issues with parents and or lovers at the start of their story.  Next, you put into the script the big break that makes someone a star and toss in the ‘coping with fame’ element and of course sex, infidelity and problems with drugs and alcohol.  There’s also the requisite drop in fame and stature because nobody stays on top forever (except for maybe Taylor Swift) and jealousy and betrayal within the band or the inner circle of the artist. 

So here’s my pick for the next rock star movie to be about the Eagles. Now two disclaimers.

Disclaimer #1– Yes I am and always have been a big Eagles fan, but I’ll get to my reasoning. 

Disclaimer #2. Some might say there’s already been an acclaimed documentary about the band titled “The History of the Eagles.”  True enough. However, if you watch that two part DVD you learn the overall story about what this group went through but it’s not acted out in dramatic fashion.  There is more to any story than just some interview clips covering basic history and the Eagles have plenty of history that can be delved into and presented in a more dramatic movie form.

First, you have the meet up in L.A. of Glenn Frey from Detroit and Don Henley out of rural Texas.  They abandon previous music work to be Linda Ronstadt’s back-up band and then move on to form their own group.  The Eagles’ success grows steady, Don ‘Fingers’ Felder joins up to add a more rocking edge to their music then Bernie Leadon gets fed up with the the crazy star lifestyle, dumps a beer on Glenn Frey and quits. Not too long afterwards, Joe Walsh becomes an Eagle. Next, the landmark “Hotel California” album launches the band into monster fame and fortune. Next up, their drug and alcohol intake increases. Then there’s the pressure to equal the success of the Hotel California album and more inner band fighting than anyone can believe.

Let’s not forget the infamous Long Beach concert for Senator Alan Cranston where Glenn Frey and guitarist Don Felder get into an onstage verbal fight that goes on to a near post-show throw-down.  Next the band splits up for 14 years. Henley and Frey put on solo careers but it’s not all a smooth ride and Joe Walsh’s substance abuse damn near kills him.  Then you have how the Eagles reunited in 1994, Walsh gets clean & sober and the group tours endlessly to make more money than ever before. Felder gets kicked out of the band and sadly in 2016 Glenn Lewis Frey dies after battling multiple illnesses.  Plus you have Frey’s son Deacon and Vince Gill joining the latest incarnation of the group. 

There’s plenty of material here that could be dramatized in a movie. And now I’ll present who I would cast in a movie about the Eagles.

So there you have my casting for an Eagles biopic. Now it’s up to Hollywood to roll up to the Hotel California with my ideas.

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG: Happy Birthday to ‘Trouble.’

“We’re through being cool, we’re through being cool, eliminate the ninnies and the twits.’  ( Devo)

The Urban Dictionary defines “Geeking Out” as “…freaking out over something that could be considered nerdy and knowing it.”  I might add to that, you also DON’T CARE that you’re geeking out.  Worrying and focusing on things that are ‘hip, trendy and happening’ is a folly I gave up on years ago. So with unabashed pride, I present to you some of the things I “Geek out” over.

My summer hair-cut has been the same for seventeen years.  I go to Sport Clips and ask for a buzz cut just one notch longer than a crew cut.  It’s not super stylish or suave but it is cool temperature wise, comfortable and requires little maintenance.  I get this cut at the end of May and usually repeat it in early August.  I’ll take comfort over a jelled up, slick combed style any day of the week!

Hanging out at East End Pool’s Adult Swim Sessions isn’t really geeky, especially since the adult swim regulars have become friends and they are far from nerdy.  Nobody puts on any pretense. Our talking topics while puddling around in the water range from sports and news of what we’re doing to music and where the good places are to eat & drink in the summer months.  However, I will grant you my summer hang is not as trendy as lounging at the East Bank Club pool or Oak Street Beach. Still, the camaraderie of this place is just fine by me, no need to be “cool” while having fun under the hot sun.

Keeping baseball scorecards at home.  This one falls into the sports nerd category.  Anytime I’ve ever gone to a Cubs or White Sox game I always bought a scorecard and kept track inning by inning of what hitters and pitchers on both teams were doing during the game.  Since I don’t go to many games in person these days, I print up blank scorebook pages from online and meticulously track what goes on while watching the games on TV.  All plays from 6-3 (shortstop to 1^st base ground-outs to backward K’s for hitters who get called out on strikes) are written down and tallied at game’s end.  I keep score of ballgames I’m watching about twice a week.  It’s cheaper than being at the game in person and besides not paying six bucks for a hot dog I also don’t have to stand in line to go pee in a men’s room trough.

Karaoke singing off of You Tube. In the warm weather I keep my windows open with the screens down unless the heat gets unbearable and the AC has to go on.  So my next door neighbors get an earful of me surfing YouTube for good music beds to songs I want to belt out with my limited vocal abilities. I can easily blow two hours warbling aloud to everything from Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” to Badfinger’s “Baby Blue.”  You’ve heard the phrase “Dance like nobody’s watching?”  Well I sing like nobody’s listening.   

Powerball Plans-When a Powerball game rolls over where a single winner could take home many millions of greenbacks I’ll plunk down 20 bucks on quick picks. Then I head home and write down on a ledger sheet what I’d do with a big money pay-off.  Ten percent of the money would go to favored charities. After that, I allocate for family, a couple of friends and then mark down what dollars would be spent for some fix-ups to my house and the new car I’d get along with maybe a silly spending spree or two. If I won crazy ‘Screw you’ money I’d either hire the Eagles to play my birthday party or host a double act show of Clint Black and Travis Tritt. I know the chances of winning the lottery are ridiculously low, but it’s fun to fantasize and map out what I’d do if it happened.

Movie Man- When seeing movies at my local theater I almost always go to the first show of the day.  First off, it’s cheaper, second, there are no crowds so there’s quick service on my snacks and I don’t have to hear the chatter and jibber jabber of rude rookie cinema goers.  Also, I enjoy getting out of a theater and still having much of the day to enjoy.  Just as Woody Allen said in “Crimes and Misdemeanors”, seeing movies in the daytime feels like I’m playing hooky.  

Writing parody songs. If you’re on my e-mail list or see my Facebook page you know I write revised lyrics to hit songs and relate the new words to things happening in local sports and pop culture.  These parodies are done with my good friend Al Flash who sings almost all of them (since he’s the tech and software genius) and we collaborate on ideas for the videos that go with them.  Our works get aired on the WGN Morning News show as anchors Larry Potash and Robin Baumgarten know us as “Mick and Al.  There’s no money involved in these 60 to 80 second parodies, we just like coming up with goofy shit.  I’m usually the instigator or starter of the parodies and have been known to wake up at 4 in the morning to get cranking on a new idea. The late Glenn Frey was known as ‘The Lone Arranger” and that title fits me too.  Al takes on the Don Henley moniker of “Golden Throat” and it all works out pretty well.

A charter member of the Pop Culture Club.  Jim Turano is my longtime pal from Elmhurst College.  Besides acting in local plays Jim works in radio as a fill-in talk show host at WGN AM 720. Known as ‘Elton Jim’ for his lifelong dedication to Elton John (he’s been to over 190 EJ concerts) he has a feature called the “Pop Culture Club” and puts me on the air with him (on the phone) to discuss the latest trends in music, movies, and TV. Jim often does his air shifts between midnight and 5 a.m. and we usually do an hour together in the middle of that time slot. Turano and I have always had a great rapport and as much as we can yak for an hour on the air, off the air he and I can do a two hour phone call and still not cover all we want to share with each other.

So there you have it; plenty of things I “Geek out” on and am not ashamed to talk about.  Life is about finding pleasures where you can and this stuff brings me plenty of that. 

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG–   The next musical act I want to see a movie made about.

Singer-songwriter John Eddie turns 60 on July 9^th. My longtime friend Marko Vasko and I owe serious thanks to this guy. So about now you’re probably saying,” Who the hell is John Eddie?”  Fair enough. In fact the Richmond, Virginia born rocker actually titled his 2003 album “Who the Hell is John Eddie?”  So allow me to give you some background on him.

In the early 80’s, rocker John Eddie took his popular club performing act to New Jersey, and other eastern locales.  He signed a contract with Columbia Records and was seen as a potential ‘Next Bruce Springsteen’ artist.  John played alongside Bruce on occasion and members of the E Street Band played on his self-titled debut disc which came out in 1986.  

Marko Vasko and I became instant fans of that record. The lead single “Jungle Boy” reached #17 on the rock charts but there were other prime cuts that Columbia failed to mine off that release.  Songs like “Dream House”, “Pretty Little Rebel” and my favorite “Just Some Guy” evoked the passion and angst of a young man trying to make it with the girls and in life.  “Pretty Little Rebel” was also featured in a movie titled “Three for the Road” starring Charlie Sheen and his “Lucas” co-star Kerri Green.

So how does John Eddie factor into the lives of a Marko Vasko and yours truly?  I’ll share Marko’s story first.  As the late 80’s rolled into the 90’s and beyond, John’s music career saw some ups and downs with the changing of record labels, management and his progress toward the big time stalled.  Still, John Eddie was a well received club draw across the country including Chicago.

This takes us to the early 2000’s and Marko finds himself seeing John Eddie in concert as often as possible when he came to Chicago to play the renowned “Joe’s” on Weed Street.   John and his band would headline and sometimes open for up and coming acts like Miranda Lambert. Attending these shows Marko noticed a contingent of faithful John Eddie fans, two in particular, Yoli and her girlfriend Chris.  Yoli (the more vocal of the Eddie-heads) and Chris traveled to other states to see their guy play live.  They went to Texas, Ohio and New York for John Eddie performances.  When in Chicago, they occasionally drove him back to his hotel after some shows.

Marko introduced himself and got to know Yoli and Chris on a “Friends who have a common bond in John Eddie’s music” basis.  This went on for a period of time until one night in mid-January of 2008.  Marko was attracted to Chris and planned to ask her out. So after a few buckets of bottles of Coors Light they shared, he made his move. Chris says yes and they had their first real date a week later.  From there things moved fast. Two months into their dating, Marko knew Chris was ‘the one.’  (I think she kind of liked him too) They moved in together in 2010 got married in Hawaii in 2012 and have been very happy ever since. 

This “If it weren’t for John Eddie we’d never have met” story has been shared with the soon to be 60 year old rocker and he happily accepts credit for Marko and Chris’ wedded bliss.

Now we get to where I owe John Eddie.  This goes back to the late summer of 1989.  John released his second album “The Hard Cold Truth” and was touring to promote it.  At the time I was producing the Miller and Howell morning radio show at Chicago’s WCKG 105.9 FM.  However, our show’s ratings were sinking and it became apparent that John Howell, Stephanie Miller and yours truly were just a few weeks away from being fired.  

In late August I was reading through the newspaper’s ‘Friday’ section and saw John Eddie was playing Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates that night. He was the opening act for The Bangles who were label-mates of his.  Marko and I had seen and met the Bangles before but we had yet to catch John’s live show and that is the only reason we decided to get tickets for this concert. 

We scored decent seats in the pavilion and rocked out to John Eddie’s hard pounding, high energy set. It was obvious he lives to play live.  So to kill time before the Bangles took the stage, Marko and I took a walk around the concourse and I ran into Dave Perlmutter, a promotions guy from my days at WLS AM radio. Dave was now the marketing director at WKQX or Q-101 FM as it was known.  Perlmutter told me their morning star Robert Murphy was looking for a second show producer and asked if there was anyone I could recommend for the job. Sure Dave, me!  I explained things were not going well at WCKG and Dave said he’d put the good word in for me with Murphy and the Q-101 bosses.

The next week I interviewed with Robert and while the move I was willing to make was a lateral one, having a radio job is better than not having a radio job.  A couple weeks later, the WCKG ax fell on Miller, Howell and me.  Our canning was reported in the next day’s Chicago Sun Times and later that day Robert Murphy called to offer me the job as his second producer. After working out salary details with Murphy and Q-101 program director Bill Gamble, I had the gig.  I took ten days off to catch my breath and prepare for a fun filled four year run producing morning radio at Q-101.

The bottom line being without John Eddie opening for the Bangles, Marko and I don’t go to that concert and I don’t run into Dave Perlmuitter who leads me to a new radio job.  So thanks John Eddie, if I ever meet you, I owe you a beer or two, at least!

John Eddie post-script– As he hits the age of sixty, John Eddie still writes songs and performs in clubs around the country. He’s a music lifer and players gotta play. Kid Rock has recorded several of John’s songs (which helps pay the bills) including the ‘I’m getting older’ song “Forty” and the bawdy “Low Life.”  Mr. Eddie also co-wrote “More Than Miles” with Brantley Gilbert who made that song a top 10 Country hit in 2012.   

I recommend you check out John’s music on You Tube. And the next time he comes to town, go see his show. You never know what effect John Eddie might have on your life. 

Here’s the link to a favorite song of mine, “Just Some Guy.”

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG-   It’s Cool to “Geek Out.”

Watching local TV news, it’s standard protocol for the anchors to razz the weatherman or weather woman when there’s bad skies ahead.  Rain, snow, too much cold, too much heat, the ribbing rolls on as if the meteorologist created the bad weather.  So I’m thinking, why doesn’t the weather person toss in some light jokes at the newscasters who deliver stories about fires, murders and other tragedies?  ‘Hey Alan, what’s up with the body count from last weekend’s shootings in Chicago?  What do you gotta say about that?”  Tasteless maybe ,but I say turn the tables on the newscasters.

Growing up I watched the Saturday morning cartoon “Scooby Doo Where Are You?”  Nowadays I wonder where the hell did Freddie, Daphne, Velma and company come up with the money to travel all over the country solving mysteries?  I mean none of these characters had jobs!  And speaking of traveling, who paid for the gas needed for the “Mystery Machine” van?  What about footing the bill for food for the whole gang?  And besides buying all those Scooby Snacks for the dog I have one more burning question.  Who paid for Shaggy’s weed?

WHERE YOU FROM? WHO CARES? Most of us have been to rock, pop or country music concerts. I’ve been to more than I could ever count and have only one question; When it’s time for the lead singer to introduce his or her band, why do they mention what town each musician is from?  “Back on drums, from Shreveport Lousiana, please give it up for Joe Fenderman!”  Who cares where these players are from?  I’m listening to live music, not taking a census.

WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GONNA DO?  On the subject of music, it’s no secret that outside of Taylor Swift and Coldplay, most every big crowd drawing and money making live concert act is aged 50 or 60 and over. Elton John, members of The Who, Eagles and Rolling Stones are in their 70’s.  The Stones just rocked out two concerts at Soldier Field and there seems to be no stopping Mick Jagger and the band.

Anyway, many is the time I hear the question, “Why are these guys still touring? What’s the point of still playing live?” I admit I used to ask that same question until I realized what else are these people supposed to do?  It’s not like Jagger or Roger Daltrey have been toiling in rock music until they settle down and get a real job.  These singers and players committed themselves to a life of being working musicians and as long as their chops or skills remain at a quality level and folks are willing to pay to see them, then why the hell not play those concerts?

For those familiar with longtime Cub fan Ronnie ‘Woo Woo; Wickers who is ALWAYS wearing his team’s jersey and pants, I have one query.  When Ronnie goes out of town for any reason, does he then wear the Cubs’ road uniform?

On the subject of baseball games, what exactly is the penalty for re-broadcasting or re-transmitting the accounts and descriptions of a televised game without the expressed written consent of Major League Baseball?  Growing up I used to hear Cub play by play man Jack Brickhouse state that disclaimer every game.  It sounded so foreboding and scary.  Is this really a crime or is it like tearing that tag off a mattress when we’re warned not to?

QUICK QUESTIONS ON FAST FOOD– Why does every fast food drive thru give me a receipt for my bag of burgers and fries?  I don’t want any proof of the bad food I choose to eat so often.

Sometimes when eating at an independently owned hot dog or burger stand I’ll see a weird item on their menu board, a hot and crispy “Pizza Puff”.  What the hell IS a pizza puff and has anyone ever ordered one?  I’m betting a hard ‘no’ on that one.

LAST QUERIES I PROMISE–

Every once in awhile (in movies and real life) I hear women being super mad at someone and these ladies yell “Suck my dick!”… Um,.has anyone given these girls a lesson in anatomy?

Will those ninnies on ABC TV’s “The View” ever stop talking at the same time?  I didn’t think so.

How much longer can the Kardashian TV show/fashion/social media and commercial endorsement empire continue to thrive?  On the fashion stuff I’ve never seen a group of women who dress as horribly as they do.  As for how long they’ll remain in the public lexicon, I don’t think I want to know the answer to that.

What exactly is the purpose of giving a pregnant woman a so called “Push Present?”  I mean like it or not, when the time comes, that baby is coming sliding down the honey-pot highway, you can’t stop what’s coming.  Is an extra present really a necessary motivation or incentive?  I thought the birth of a healthy new baby should be enough of a present.  Then again, if it were up to us men to birth the babies the human race wouldn’t have gotten out of the Garden of Eden.

Final question.  What’s next week’s blog about?  The rock star who had a big personal impact on a friend of mine and on me in two different instances.

On June 28^th at 3:15 p.m., our Extended School Year (summer school) ends and a month and a half of vacation will begin.  It is a welcome break!  Teaching special education students who have behavior and learning issues is very rewarding but it’s also a daily challenge.  I’ve often said the kind of work our teachers, para-professionals and crisis staffers do is not for sissies.

I recently read a great phrase that fits all pre-K through grade 12 educators- “They’re not on summer vacation, they’re in recovery!”

The first benefit of being off is I’m no longer on a clock. No looking at my watch and thinking “Oh, this lesson has to wrap up at so and so time so we can start a new chapter in another class, and then we have to get the kids to P.E.”  I have no clock to answer to and that is a nice thing to say.

Another benefit is for the next month and a half I have no dress code. I’ll be living as if I were Jimmy Buffet. Barring some unforeseen formal event such as a wake or a special dinner, I will not be wearing long pants.  All that’s in my dresser drawers are gym shorts, board shorts and swim trunks.  No dress shirts allowed, an occasional polo shirt yes, but mostly just T-shirts. I won’t wear socks and my footwear will be a mix of gym shoes, Adidas slides and Reef flip flops. Wait, me, Mr. Bare Foot Phobia in flip flops? Truth being told, despite having my toes and ankles banged up from years of playing hockey, they’re actually in decent shape. And I keep my nails closely trimmed so as to not gross myself or anyone else out. 

As my regular Facebook and blog readers know, I’ll be spending the bulk of my days at East End Pool during the Adult Swim on Sundays through Fridays and catching up with my fellow pool ‘regulars.’ Also, if I get to the water early on Saturdays, there’s  time to enjoy it before the crowd of youngsters arrive there. The Elmhurst Park District has slated several night swims this season and I’ll take part in them too.  Taking laps and floating around under the stars is great fun that brings me back to my teen years.  Naturally, by the end of summer I expect to be tan enough to make George Hamilton look pale as Beetlejuice.

Unless you’re a 12 year old kid or are into mindless popcorn flicks, this summer’s movie schedule looks a bit lean.  Still I plan to see the Beatles never existed fantasy “Yesterday,” the live action “Lion King”, the scatological farce “Good Boys” and in late July I really look forward to Quentin Tarantino’s latest effort “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

Back at my house there are a couple of small repair jobs I need to take care of including window washing and the waterproofing of my back stairs.  I’m also getting my driveway sealed for the first time in several years, it needs it!

 I’ll be faithfully watching both Cubs and White Sox games and geeking out with some home scorecard tracking too.  Hey, I’m a sports nerd, get over it.

One creative endeavor I have is to develop a fictional trilogy of short stories.   All three tales have their basic structure completed and I know where the plots are going, I just need to fill them in with details and color.

Also, I’ve pulled my acoustic guitar out of mothballs and hope to add to my mastery of two chords I sort of remember from about five years ago.  It’ll take a couple weeks for my left hand’s fingertips to callous up but I’m fine with that.

I’ll also be meeting up with friends for lunches, a movie or a few cocktails and some laughs.  As far as a summer romance goes, to be honest I’m kind of set in the mode of a ‘Solitary Man’ as Neil Diamond once sang. Still, you never know what can happen.  I’ve got a nice six week break to take in and I’ll enjoy every single minute of it.  (minus my watch)  

NEXT BLOG WILL POST ON 7/2/19– I Ask Lots of Questions and Hope for Answers.

The popular and award winning country music group Little Big Town plays Ravinia this Friday June 28^th.  Due to a personal scheduling conflict I can’t make it to the show but still I wanted to note my appreciation for this foursome.

For almost fifteen years LBT, as they’re sometimes referred to, has been my favorite country group.  They’ve been together since the late 90’s but it was the nostalgic roots recall hit “Boondocks” that put them on the music charts and into the ears of country fans.  Their two girl-two guy harmonies bring out comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and they have embraced this by often covering Mac songs like “Go Your Own Way” and “The Chain” in concert.  LBT even did a country ‘Crossroads’ TV episode with former Fleetwood Mac star Lindsey Buckingham.

In the Spring of 2007 I took my mom to see one of her favorite singers Martina McBride at the Rosemont Theater.  I too like Martina’s music but the bonus for me was Little Big Town was the opening act.  This is when I began to really appreciate the versatility of the group as each member can handle lead vocal duties and hearing them singing as a foursome is impressive.  At that time my favorite songs of theirs were the Kimberly Shlapman sung “Wounded” and the haunting group sung “Bones” which was used on an episode of the HBO vampire series “True Blood.”  I love the line, “It’s a long and hard road to hoe when seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon.”      

Two years after “Boondocks” hit the charts, it appeared Little Big Town would be eclipsed by the rise of the vocal trio of Lady Antebellum.  This was due in part to Lady A’s smash ballad “Need You Now” which remains their biggest song to date.  And for awhile they did take a backseat to the love Lady Antebelluim got. Still, I maintained the foursome of Shlapman, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet would overtake all other country acts with their vocal versatility and song power.  I was right.  The proof being in songs like “Tornado”, “Girl Crush”, “Day Drinking”, the fun in the sun romp of “Pontoon” and the sweet like wine song “Sober” which should’ve been a bigger chart hit than it was.

I can’t leave out the ‘escape from an abusive relationship’ ballad “Better Man.”  That one was written by Taylor Swift who gifted it to LBT. I find that beyond generous because it’s probably the best song Miss Swift has ever written.   The most profound line in this song being “The bravest thing I ever did was run.” Wow, nice work Taylor!

‘BETTER MAN’ IS PROBABLY THE BEST SONG TAYLOR SWIFT HAS EVER WRITTEN AND SHE HAPPILY GAVE IT AWAY TO LITTLE BIG TOWN.

Besides their own album recordings, Little Big Town enjoys covering songs by other artists on a You Tube series titled “Scattered, Smothered and Covered.”  The group puts country flavor to songs like Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”, Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and their finest cover being Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” which stomps out in hootenanny style.

LADY GAGA MUSIC  GOES COUNTRY WITH THIS HALLWAY RAVE UP OF “BORN THIS WAY” WHICH IS PART OF THEIR ‘SCATTERED, SMOTHERED AND COVERED” YOU TUBE SERIES.

Last year at an Elton John tribute concert the popular foursome had the task of performing “Rocket Man” and did so well with it that they’ve incorporated the song into their live shows.  The last time LBT played Chicago they opened with that E.J. classic. 

“ROCKET MAN” WAS SO WELL DONE BY LBT THAT IT’S BECOME A LIVE CONCERT STAPLE.

There’s more I could say about Little Big Town but they’re best represented by their body of musical work.   So enjoy clicking on to the links I posted and if you see them at Ravinia, you’re in for a great night of fun party songs and heartfelt ballads. 

FRIDAY 6-28-19’s BLOG: HOW I PLAN TO SPEND MY SUMMER VACATION.

Three blogs ago I wrote about June 3^rd being my favorite date in music. It’s because that’s when Billy Joe McCallister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge in Bobbie Gentry’s classic song “Ode to Billy Joe.”  In my opinion those four minutes of southern gothic music represent the best story song of all time and I never tire of it.

As I wrote before, there remains a mystery as to WHY Billy Joe McCallister took his own life.  Was it guilt over a homosexual relationship?  The pain over his girlfriend possibly aborting a baby which may or may not have been what he and her were seen throwing off that famed bridge? 

Nobody knows these answers and Mississippi born Bobbie Gentry has never given definitive replies to the questions this song inspires.  The most she’s said is that “Ode to Billie Joe” is about “unconscious cruelty and indifference.”    

Years ago, Carly Simon revealed the cad depicted in her classic hit “You’re So Vain” was either Mick Jagger or Warren Beatty.  As juicy as that detail may be, I think that spoils matters for us listeners.  It’s like a magician showing us the secrets of how one of his or her tricks were done.  Once the reveal is out it taints the tale.  I for one need an open space for reflection, interpretation and opinion. 

The good news is the mystery of “Ode to Billy Joe” will probably never be re-opened and ruined for those who crave definitive answers. This is because Bobbie Gentry has been an off the radar and off the grid for over 35 years.  Nobody really knows where she is or what she does.  If anyone DOES know, they’re not talking.    

This kind of disappearing act is pretty amazing considering that from 1967 through the 1970’s Bobbie Gentry was in the public eye and ear recording music of her own, collaborating with Glen Campbell on a duets album and putting on highly praised and financially lucrative live shows in Las Vegas. Besides the number 1 hit “Billy Joe” which crossed over from Country radio to Top 40 radio, she charted 11 singles and wrote and recorded the original version of “Fancy.”  That Gentry song about a girl who learned to ‘be nice to the gentlemen’ only made it to the top 30 but years later Reba Mc Entire covered it and made it a monster country hit.  This was another great story song and one that brought plenty more royalties to its songwriter.  

          

For a short time Gentry was married to Vegas Casino magnate Bill Harrah.  After a second failed marriage she met and tried wedlock with well known 70’s pop artist Jim Stafford who had his own TV series and several radio hits.  They had a son Tyler who was born a few months after their marriage dissolved just short of a year in 1980. When asked about his famous ex-wife Stafford is tight lipped and has only spoken flattering words to describe what a talent Bobbie was in all facets of music making and putting on a live show. 

One of Bobbie Gentry’s last public performances was on Christmas night 1978 as a guest on the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.  The next year she appeared on a salute to Mother’s Day and in 1982 was seen at a couple of music industry events before slinking off into anonymity. 

From there Bobbie Gentry was reportedly living a private life in Los Angeles while remaining a part owner of the Phoenix Suns basketball team from 1968 through 1987.  With no apparent money woes she walked away from the glitz, glamour and public existence of a show-biz life at an age when many artists are still hitting their creative stride.

Over the years many writers and reporters have tried to locate this Greta Garbo-like star but have come up with little in the way of confirmed facts.  In 2016, the Washington Post ran an article claiming Ms. Gentry was living in a gated community in a suburb of Memphis.  However, there have also been reports of her living everywhere from the outskirts of Nashville to Georgia and South Carolina.  One reporter claims to have made a shot in the dark call to a southern home and believes he talked with the mysterious Miss Gentry for a few seconds before being hung up on.

Last fall there was a boxed set release of all previous Bobbie Gentry music titled “The Girl from Chickasaw County”.  Still, she did no interviews or work to promote these past works.   With an estimated personal net worth of 100 million dollars, it doesn’t sound like Miss Gentry needs anything from anyone. 

I see Bobbie Gentry as being music’s answer to Harper Lee, the author of “To Kill a Mockingbird” which many consider to be the greatest work of American literature.  After the book’s mega-success (which continues to this day) and subsequent movie, Harper Lee went off the grid and lived a very private existence.  That was until late in life when she agreed to release a pre-Mockingbird  book titled “Go Set A Watchman” which turned out to be a reported first draft of her Pulitzer prize winning novel.

I don’t anticipate a musical “Go Set a Watchman” type release coming from the reclusive Bobbie Gentry.  In fact I see her quick fade out from show business as being refreshing and inspiring.  So many famous performers refuse to leave the spotlight until they’ve become pale images of what they were in their hey day.  The Who’s Roger Daltrey has talked about how you don’t retire from the music business, the music business retires you.  Staying at the party too long is an ungracious way to be remembered and this is why I admire how Bobbie Gentry left public life on her own terms.   Well done by that girl turned woman from Chickasaw County!     

 NEXT WEEK’S BLOG-  A Visit to Little Big Town’s “Boondocks.”