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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.”

Father’s Day is this Sunday.  Like many of you I was blessed to have a great dad who I miss very much. He passed in August of 1993.  However, there might be a few pops out there who fall short of being a good parent.  With that, I bring you my checklist on what constitutes a dad who needs better judgement in being a role model and mentor for their kids.

You MIGHT be a lousy father if:

You and a pom pom girl from your kid’s high school are sexting each other.

Your 5 year old has real tattoos.

On ‘Take Your Kid To Work Day’ your little one has to act as a corner look-out.

You’ve ever been tased at a T-ball game.

At your daughter’s high school “Career Night” you complain there are no reps from the local strip club.

YOU MIGHT BE A LOUSY FATHER IF:

Both you and your teenager wear home monitoring ankle bracelets. 

When taking the kids to the local pool you wear a banana hammock.

You hold cock fights in your toddler’s play-house.

When playing Pee Wee football your son fails a steroid test.

YOU MIGHT BE A LOUSY FATHER IF:

You sleep with your son’s girlfriend before he does.

You sneak a six pack into the school Christmas pageant.

You pay for your son’s first ever lap dance.  And you’re REALLY a lousy father if the dancer is your daughter.

Your kid’s Science Fair project is a pot growing operation.

YOU MIGHT BE A LOUSY FATHER IF:

You’re the photographer of your daughter’s Playboy test shots.  And it’s worse if you used a hidden camera.

Your son complains the school library doesn’t subscribe to “High Times” magazine

The incentive for your kids to get good grades includes Jagermeister and a pony keg.

When enrolling your kid into pre-school you use the F-word more than twice.

You refer to your teen daughter’s slumber party as “New Talent Night.”

YOU MIGHT BE A LOUSY FAHTER IF:

Your kids learn about the birds and the bees from Jenna Jameson pornos.

The T-shirt you wear at the school Parent-Teacher night says “Free Mustache Rides.”

You’ve ever bribed a Little League umpire.

You need the dog’s urine to pass a drug screen.

The family mini-van has a bumper sticker that says, “No Fat Chicks.”

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG- Whatever happened to Bobbie Gentry?

On Monday June 10^{th 2019}, my friend Bob (Bobbo) Ciciora turned 58,.same age as me.  Bobbo has been my great pal since we were both twelve years old and shared classes at Bryan Junior High.  Bobbo grew up with four brothers and two sisters while I had no brothers, just my dear sister Marianne.  However due to our longtime friendship and seeing each other through many highs and some lows over the past 46 years, I consider the two of us to be brothers from other mothers.  I know he does as well.

A couple months ago when wife Tammi asked what he wanted for his birthday, Bob said he wished he could get Sammy Llanas and his band to play a paid performance at their home. 

FYI- For over twenty years Sammy was one half of the creative force behind the Wisconsin based band The BoDeans.  Of the two mainstays of that group, Sammy Llanas’ voice and songs were always our favorites.  I can’t count how many times we traveled to Summerfest in Milwaukee to see the BoDeans rock out as well as catching them playing shows in Chicago.  When Sammy split off from partner Kurt Neumann he formed his own band and now plays concerts filled with songs he wrote for the BoDeans and solo work he’s recorded over the years.    

Just one wish. Have Sammy Llanas play at the house.  Well last night Bobbo got his wish!  Tammi, with help from another close friend of ours, Marko Vasko, made the necessary arrangements for Sammy and his 3 back-up players to come in and do a concert. Tammi may have paid the performance fee but Marko was the masterful coordinator of all logistics and even took care of the band’s drink and food needs.

While Tammi and two neighbors wined and dined Bobbo at a nearby restaurant, friends and family gathered at the Ciciora’s back yard noshing on snacks and a couple of taps of Polyanna craft beer.  Sammy and his band battled bad traffic to arrive and set up their gear as we patiently waited for the birthday boy to show up so the concert could start.

What a great party it was and a tremendous surprise for my buddy! He was thrilled and shocked as he saw what fun was about to unfold in front of him. Tammi even had laminated badges made for all guests to mark the special night.

I’ve seen Sammy Llanas play live as a BoDean more times than I could count.  However, this was the first time for me to catch him as a solo act with his band and the Waukesha native did not disappoint.  He opened the set with “That’s All”, my favorite song off the BoDeans debut album “Love and Hope and Sex and Dreams.”  FULL DISCLOSURE, “That’s All” came out in 1986 and it accurately reflects the mood and feelings of my ‘first time’ with a woman which occurred a few years earlier.

Sammy and his three bandmates covered most of his best work as a BoDean.  From “Still the Night”. “617”, “Heart of a Miracle”. “Black, White & Blood Red”, “Hey Pretty Girl” “Naked” and “True Devotion” to a fun mash-up of “Misery” and “Sylvia”, a song about a nasty pussycat who was ‘Spending all my money, driving my new car, scratching all my records & playing my guitar.” 

They also slid in a good helping of Sammy Llanas’ solo work of which I’m not as familiar with but really enjoyed too.  Guitarist Sean Williamson was an ace on the steel guitar for several cuts which included a couple of country flavored shuffles and the guests responded with the appropriate applause and appreciation for the newer works.

There was more BoDeans era music to hear including the late in the set stomp of “Fadeaway” and the track “Closer to Free” which many remember as the theme song from the TV series “Party of Five.”  Sammy also tagged in “She’s a Runaway” and while that song is over thirty years old, its tale of a mistreated woman reflects well in today’s world of “Me Too” and related domestic abuse issues.

The ninety minute plus set was a great one and seeing Bobbo and Tammi rock out to every song was a huge kick for me.  I remember the time the three of us saw Sammy and the BoDeans play The Vic Theater in 1993 when Tammi was several months pregnant with what would be her second baby, Aimee.  Aimee is now a full grown college graduate and corporate airplane pilot.  It should be noted that Bob and Tammi’s first child Alex and his wife Sarah are about a month away from making them grandparents.  Shit, where did the time go?   

After the show, getting to meet and talk a bit with Sammy and his band was a fun way to wrap up the party. They were more than accommodating for photos and some laughs. As I drove home at the end of the night I thought of how great music like Sammy’s provided a wonderful soundtrack to our lives together and Monday night’s private performance amplified that.

Add to all of what went down in Bobbo’s backyard, this was the last party to be held at the Ciciora house as they are just days away from moving to Bend, Oregon.  Plenty of fun, laughs and a few tears have been shed over years at that locale and I’ll always look back on those times with fondness and nostalgia. Since Bob flies for American Airlines and he has much family back here, we’ll still see each other and of course stay close despite the miles between us. 

So until we see each other again Bobbo, safe travels and God Bless.  And Tammi, thanks for landing Sammy for that last blast and a night to remember!

ON A BLOG LATER THIS WEEK: You Might Be a Lousy Father if…

For those like me who are into trivial matters such as dates and events in music, this first week in June is a big one, always has been and always will be.  Let me explain.

Let’s start off with the old Neil Diamond song “Desiree.” It opens with the lyrics “It was the third of June on that summer’s day when I became a man at the hands of a girl almost twice my age.”  Yeah Neil’s tune tells us about a rookie who got some nookie that day. I love the line, “And it wasn’t so much her words as such, as the way they were sung.”  That Desiree was a love machine folks!  

And he goes on, “Then came the fourth of June on that sleepless night when I tossed and I turned while the thought of her burned up and down my mind.” 

When I was in my teens and beyond I was attracted to older women and “Desiree” had something to do with that.  Also you need to factor in the influence of films I saw like “The Graduate” and “Summer of 42.”   Neil’s song’s story was a one and done/hit it and quit it deal and there are plenty of other great one night stand songs that I’ll have to list out another day.

But we’re not done with the “Third of June.”  June third is my favorite day in music because of Bobbie Gentry’s classic “Ode to Billy Joe.” It is on that fateful day when we learn Billy Joe McCallister jumped to his death off the Tallahatchie Bridge.   I have former radio co-workers who appreciate this song like I do; so much so that on the night of June 2^nd I stay up until the clock strikes midnight and June third hits. Then I quickly post on their Facebook pages lyrics along with a photo of the infamous bridge in that song.      

With that opening line “It was the third of June another sleepy dusty Delta day” we learn what went down that day.  The song’s narrator goes on to share supper with her family and in between bites of food is told how Billy Joe McCallister took his own life.

“Ode to Billy Joe” was a monster radio hit on both the country and pop music charts and then inspired a movie by the same name. Still, unanswered questions remain.  Why did Billy Joe off himself this way?  Was it due to the shame of a homosexual relationship with a grown man?  Did Billy Joe impregnate the song’s narrator who then got an abortion?  And what was that young couple throwing off the bridge? Could it have been a keepsake from a gay affair?  Or maybe it was a dead fetus? 

Nobody knows for sure and the beautiful part of this mystery is Bobbie Gentry has never revealed definitive answers to these and other questions about that song.  The most Ms. Gentry has ever said about “Ode To Billy Joe” is that she wrote it to illustrate the issue of “Unconscious cruelty & indifference” to such tragedies.  During the song, Billy Joe’s death is talked about at dinner but that’s in between lines like “Pass the biscuits please” and how Brother Taylor would like to come over for dinner on Sunday.

I once read that this song is “Not heard but felt.”  True enough!

There is a lot more to cover about Bobbie Gentry herself and I will do just that in a couple of weeks.  In the meantime, click below and enjoy this southern tale of tragedy in the Mississippi Delta.

SONG LINK 

3 DAYS LATER-

June 6^th is another big day this week.  First off, it was on June 6^th 1940 when my radio mentor, former boss and longtime friend Larry Lujack was born.  Sadly,  Lar passed away in December of 2013 but he’s never forgotten by me and millions of radio fans who listened to him for years. If I ever finish my radio memoir “Raised on the Radio” I’ll share plenty more on Ole Uncle Lar and what he meant to me.

We’re not through with June 6th. Let’s see if these lyrics ring a bell for you.  “Was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June in a Kenworth pullin’ logs, cab-over Pete with a reefer on and a Jimmy haulin’ hogs.”  Yes, we’re talking about the fun 1975 novelty pop/country hit song “Convoy” by C.W. McCall.  That song went part and parcel with the CB radio craze at the time and even inspired a bad action movie by the same name. Thanks to some rogue truckers who didn’t want to pay any more highway tolls, we learned that ‘Bears’ were state troopers and caught up with plenty of other CB jargon.

I remember hearing “Convoy” playing on WLS AM at least once an hour and as goofy as it sounds, we couldn’t get enough of the story of truckers nearing tollbooths who “Crashed the gate doing ninety eight. So let them truckers roll 10-4.” 

One last memory of “Convoy”– My old friend Willie C and I shared twisted humor and one night in the summer of ‘81 we put that humor to work at a college buddy’s party.  The house was packed butts to guts both inside & out and a stereo was blasting rock from The Who, Stones, Journey and REO Speedwagon.  That was until Willie and I perused this guy’s record collection, spotted the C.W. McCall album and played impromptu DJs.  Next thing the whole crowd of beer guzzling, quarters playing kids heard was that hokey four minute song about Pig Pen, Rubber Duck and the truckers who didn’t want to pay no tolls.  When that tune finished there was lots of moaning from the party guests and Willie and I slinked out of the party laughing our asses off.

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG-  You Might Be A Lousy Father If:

Most of us baby boomers and those younger remember the famous kid’s game “Operation.”  I’m not sure you’d call it a ‘board game’ per se, but there was a platform or small frame set-up and of course the wired in tweezers used to pluck body parts out of the male patient.

The body parts were little plastic pieces such as a ‘wrenched ankle’, ‘funny bone’, ‘broken heart’, and don’t forget the ‘spare ribs’ to name a few.  The object was to use those wired tweezers to excise those body parts without bumping against the metal sides and hearing the buzz sound.  The patient being operated on would also light up his red nose on these metal hits.

So as we get older and older (hey, It beats the alternative) I was thinking that Hasbro, the folks who make this game, should come up with a new version of ‘Operation’ that is aimed at those in middle to old age. This new edition would exchange the ‘butterfly in stomach’, ‘wish bone’ and other body parts with maladies we of an aging generation face.

Some of the parts to be removed on the “Advanced Age Operation” game could be as follows:

Cataracts, gall bladder, appendix, there could be a heart bypass or you could be directed to install a stent or pacemaker for an ailing ticker.

The new Operation game could also feature mole removal, gastric bypass for the severely obese and switch out leg hinges with knee replacements.

Actually there could be two versions of the game based on gender.

The male patient could have a prostate removal piece, maybe even a penile implant spot and let’s not leave out a hair transplant. 

The female patient could undergo a boob job or removal of the uterus due to having a hysterectomy.  

I’m just spit-balling here but there are ways to add fun and update a classic old game like “Operation.”

WHILE WE’RE AT IT–

There are other old school board games that could be updated to modern times as well.  I’m guessing the girls’ board game ‘Mystery Date’ could include possible same sex hook-ups or some more metro-sexual male suitors. Since women can serve in the military game Stratego could include some female game pieces. The crime detecting game ‘Clue’ could have a portion that includes DNA evidence.   

I’m sure there are other old school board games that could be updated to fit into modern times. However changes come along slowly and there’s no need to take on more than I’ve already suggested.  Hasbro and any other game makers out there, the ball is now in your court.

WEIRD BUT TRUE-

Here’s a newer game that related to the gross-out Reality TV show “Dr. Pimple Popper” (and this one is real folks) It’s the “Pimple Pete” game. 

Dr. Pimple Popper’s Pimple Popping Game is Disgustingly Satisfying

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG : Some great dates in music history.

Being born in 1961 and having a rock music loving sister four years my senior, I grew up listening and loving the holy trinity of ‘British Invasion’ music; The Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who.  By age fourteen, The Who was easily my favorite of the three.  I even solo sang “Pinball Wizard” at an eighth grade chorus’ concert.  Add to this, in the summer of 1975, I saw the rock opera movie “Tommy” three times.

My close high school friends were Who nuts too.  Albums like “Tommy”, “Who’s Next” and “Quadrophenia” were constantly on our turntables.  My senior year in high school started off great as we enjoyed the just released “Who Are You” album. However, three weeks later the world of Who fans crashed with the accidental drug overdose death of drummer Keith Moon at the age of thirty two.  Despite Moon the Loon’s passing, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle planned to soldier on and tour with former Small Faces drummer Kenny Jones.

Fast forward to the fall of 1979 when I was a freshman in college and The Who announced a U.S. concert tour.  For the Chicago date there was no camping out all night for tickets as fans had to send in money orders and hope to be one of those who scored seats.  Those not selected in the lottery got their money orders sent back.  My friend Frank Bombino and I sent in for a pair of tickets and landed seats on the lower level of the Amphitheatre, about twelve rows to the side of the stage.  I was pumped.  Earlier that summer, I saw “The Kids Are Alright” movie which showed lots of Who concert footage dating from the early 60’s into 1978 but now I was going to see the band live.  I could not wait for Saturday December 8^th!!!

Besides the mail-in lottery for tickets, this Chicago Who concert had an extra twist.  After the show easily sold out, plans were put in place for a closed circuit simulcast of the whole show in selected movie theatres in Chicago and the outlying suburbs.  At this time, the only events put on closed circuit like this were heavyweight boxing matches, Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon jump and in the early 70’s some Chicago Blackhawk play-off games.  My dad took me to a few of those hockey game closed circuit casts.  This was pretty much ‘pay per view’ before pay per view became a home TV operation.  Once The Who’s concert-cast from the Amphitheatre was over, those who went to theatres were also shown the movie “Tommy.”  Several of my friends got tickets for the theatres so they could catch The Who live, albeit on a big screen.

Five days before the Chicago concert, the tragedy in Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum made national news. Eleven fans died and twenty eight others were injured in what amounted to a stampede of people rushing to get into the arena. Cincinnati’s show featured festival seating or a ‘first come, first serve’ situation and when not enough doors were opened to accommodate the crowd, tragic consequences took place.  Concern for the same thing happening in Chicago was alleviated by the fact that every one of the twelve thousand or so seats was reserved.  Still, on the night of the show officials made sure every possible gate and door for entry was opened to prevent any crowd problems. 

That night Frank and I took our seats in the mezzanine level which had a perfect side view of the stage maybe forty feet from the band.  We could also see part of the backstage area where a large video screen was set up to show folks hanging there what was being broadcast to the movie theatres.  This was a major event and years later I read it was one of Who manager  Bill Curbishly’s proudest moments.  A chance to play one show but get it out to more than just the twelve thousand fans in the arena was a major happening. WLUP FM 97.9, “The Loop” was the rock station presenting this show and well known air personality Mitch Michaels was the emcee for the night. By the way Mitch’s auto biography “Doin the Cruise”                      shares cool inside details on how this simulcast was pitched to the band and promoted by The Loop.

There was no opening act (no need for these guys) and as the house lights went dark thousands of fans screamed “Whoo!” Whooo””   From our vantage point, Frank and I could see the foursome make their way to the stage stairs before most others did and they got in position to kick the night off.  Roger Daltrey stood in his spot at center stage, leaned his torso back and waited for Pete Townshend to open with the chords to “Substitute” and the concert was up and running.  Daltrey swung his microphone cord hard and fast as they segued into “Can’t Explain” and as that song ended he introduced the next one by yelling “Out here in the fields!” With that they launched into an angry stomp of “Baba O’Riley.”  Name me any band that can match those three songs to start a show.  And good luck with that.

For the first time on a tour, The Who featured a keyboard player, John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick and playing on “Baba” was when we first heard and saw him. Townshend started up his trademark windmill swipes at his Fender telecaster and the place went bananas.  Entwistle’s bass thundered and Kenny Jones slammed away at his drums.  A couple of songs later Pete introduced a three piece brass section (saxophone, trombone and trumpet) which enabled the group to play songs from “Quadrophenia” like “5:15” along with an intense version of “Music Must Change” from “Who Are You.”  We also heard classics like “Behind Blue Eyes”,  “My Generation”, “I Can See for Miles” and “Long Live Rock.”  Bassist John “The Ox” Entwistle announced instead of playing his song “Boris the Spider” they were going to do “My Wife” which thanks to an extended jam, was a huge hit with the fans.  

During short breaks between songs, Who members took time to say hi to the fans watching the show in the movie theatres.  Daltrey, Townsend and Entwistle would give a shout out to a couple of locales each but they did a good job of focusing on the crowd in the Amphitheatre while camera operators kept positioning themselves to get the best shots of the band in action.  At one point I saw Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen standing behind a stack of amps and handing Townshend guitars between songs.  Pete did a little in between song clowning acting as if the closed circuit was broadcast to the world and saying hi to family and friends back in England, including an uncle who was “having his balls operated on.”  

“Won’t get Fooled Again” closed the band’s set which included a large flashpot stage explosion as Daltrey belted out his last scream of that classic. “Won’t Get Fooled Again” live is one of those chaotic blow-outs with all players going full bore crazy.  The foursome came out for an extended encore with highlights being the brass backed “The Real Me” and a cover of Martha and the Vandellas “Dancing in the Street”.  Then Townshend led a medley of snippets that included “Dance it Away”, “Young Man Blues”, “I’m a Man” and a yet to be released “How Can You Do It Alone.”  The Who rocked out a total of twenty eight songs and as the four members stood together at the front of the stage for a final bow, Roger Daltrey announced, “We had a great time tonight, we REALLY did!”  I’m sure he often says this to but the guys sure looked like they were having a blast doing this show.  I’ve seen The Who many times since but this virgin experience remains my favorite. 

The good news is because of the simulcast into movie theatres, tech workers were smart enough to tap into that video feed and record the entire concert. The photos from this blog are still shots from that simulcast.  The 12-8-79 show is one of the easiest to find video ‘bootlegs’ and most of the concert can be watched on You Tube.  Fans of The Who will love seeing the band looking so young and vibrant as they played these classic songs with such passion.  And while it’s great to watch on video, for lucky fans like me, there was nothing like seeing it in person.  Long live rock!  

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG- New ideas for an old game.

Once a year my favorite weekly show CBS Sunday Morning does their “Food Issue.”  It’s 90 minutes dedicated to all facets of eating such as unusual meals, off beat restaurants and anything else tied to the culinary arts.  I don’t have 90 minutes worth of food items to offer but here are just a few comments regarding the fine art of eating.

HAPPY HOUR–

With the warm weather here, there are only 3 different alcoholic drinks on my wish list come cocktail time.  All I require is a bottle of either Rolling Rock or Shiner Bock beer.  And if I want a mixed drink, vodka and lemonade will do nicely.  Which brand of vodka do I want?  It doesn’t matter to me. Despite having a pretty sharp palate I cannot distinguish between Grey Goose, Tito’s, Absolut, Ketel One, Smirnoff or any of the other popular brands.  (However, with colas, I can easily pick out the differences between Coke, Pepsi and Royal Crown)

FOR THE HEALTH OF IT

Everyone loves Portillo’s hot dogs, burgers and Italian beef but as much as I enjoy those offerings, I’m also a major fan of their chopped salad.  About twelve years ago my mother got me to try that dish, inviting me to sample some of her portion.  It’s a basic mix of fine ground lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pasta, chicken, bacon and spices.  I honestly think I could live on that meal.  A full serving with dressing included is only 800 calories and it takes me two meals to finish the chopped salad.  Before Jared Fogle got busted for being a lecherous child sexual predator he became famous for losing lots weight by eating meals at Subway.  Maybe Portillo’s can hook me up with daily servings of their chopped salad so I can knock off tons of pounds, then I can do ads for them.  And I promise there will be no sex scandals coming from me!

WE HAVE A WINNING WIENER!

On the subject of hotdogs, everyone has their personal favorites and you can find dozens of ‘Best Chicago Hot dogs’ lists online.  I’ve eaten at many of the standard ‘bests’ like Superdawg, Gene & Jude’s, Johnny’s, Wolfy’s and Byron’s.  Still, above all of them, including Portillo’s, my all time ‘go to’ place for hot dogs is the Wiener Circle on North Clark Street in Chicago.  There’s often lots of folks buzz about how rude yet funny the serving staff there can be to their customers. Still, the only fat I want to chew at Wiener’s Circle is their char cheddar hot dogs.  For over 30 years this place has been number one for me and I don’t see that ever changing.

GETTING SALTY

While I don’t want to get into a ‘greatest pizza debate’ right now, there is one habit I fell out of that merits a return try.  Growing up and dining on pizza, I used to shake salt lightly over the top of my portion of the pie. Salt on pizza works especially well when the sauce is extra sweet.  Aurelio’s is an aces place to find that sweet tomato sauce.  On a side note, when it comes to Italian food, I will never, ever refer to any sauce as ‘gravy.’  I think that’s an old school thing from the old country but I’m not from the old country. 

WHO’S HUNGRY?

When it comes to various chain restaurants, I cannot understand why nobody has paid for the use of the old Paul Revere and the Raiders pop song “Hungry.”  The chorus to that peppy romp easily fits into the food and fun theme that many chain restaurants claim to have happening at their establishments. 

Just check out this chorus-

“Because I’m hungry for those good things baby, I’m hungry through and through, I’m hungry for that sweet life baby with a real fine girl like you! I can almost taste it…”  Come on, you use that part of the song with a montage of people eating, talking and laughing in so and so eatery and you’ll have hungry eaters busting down the doors!   

SWEET TALK-

Once you’ve eaten double stuff Oreos, you will NEVER go back to regular Oreo cookies again.  You’re spoiled to the gooey richness of the double cream filling.  It’s kind of like having high speed cable internet and then knowing you’ll never revert to dial up service again. And who does Nabisco think they’re fooling with the offering of Oreo Thins?  Please, if you’re gonna eat an Oreo, eat a REAL Oreo. Double stuff for me.

Last year I cautioned people about how addicting caramel filled M&Ms peanut candy is.  This year the new caramel filled Dove Promises candy is the one to be wary of.  I can sum these bite sized treats up in two words: Chewy Heroin.

ONE LAST DISH-

I’m a full grown semi-mature man.  So why is it any time I eat cereal, oatmeal, soup or chili I only use a tea spoon?  I have never used a tablespoon to eat and don’t ever plan to.  Is that just me or what?

O.K., the bar, the kitchen and the restaurant are now closed. And don’t forget to tip your servers.

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG- Remembering my ever first Who concert.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday.  Like most of you I was blessed to have a truly wonderful mom.  However, there might be a few mothers out there who fall short of being a good parent to their offspring.  With that, I bring you my short checklist on what constitutes a mom who lacks in proper parenting skills. In other words,You MIGHT be a lousy mother if:

Your son’s arrest on “Cops” proudly makes the family Christmas letter.

Your kids think Cherry Coke & Lemonheads are fruit servings.

 A criminal background check prevents you from being a school field trip chaperone.

At your 10 year old’s birthday party you referee a game of Beer Pong.

You flash your breasts at a Wiggles concert.

The first pendant on your daughter’s charm bracelet is a marijuana leaf.

 The person your kid admires most essay is about Kim Kardashian.

Your daughter is regularly featured on “Girls Gone Wild” videos.

The regular tip for the pizza delivery guy is your son’s Ritalin pills.

At a PTA meeting you make a motion to have an open bar.

You hand out condoms to Trick or Treaters.

As a Cub Scout den mother your craft project is turning an empty soda can into a bong.

 Your teenagers haven’t seen a dentist since their baby teeth fell out.

At the high school talent show your daughter’s act involves a brass pole.

You smuggle weed through airport security in your baby’s diaper.

 Your puppy is housebroken before your 10 year old is.

It takes the Maury Povich Show to determine the paternity of your children.

The entertainment at your daughter’s Sweet 16 party is a retired porn star.

 Your contribution to a church bake sale is hash brownies.

You need your baby’s urine to pass a drug screen.

You help complete your daughter’s prom outfit with crotchless panties.

 Your after soccer game team snack is a case of Red Bull and a pack of Marlboro Lights.

 You lend your kid a vibrator to take to ‘Show and Tell.”

The contribution you make to a school silent auction is a free bikini waxing.

Your son’s Spring Break trip is to the Moonlite Bunny Ranch.

The best benefit of your kid getting his driver’s license is you now have a ‘Designated Driver.’S

So no matter if you’re a lousy mom or not, I want to wish all the mamas a happy Mother’s Day and many more to come!

NEXT WEEK: The Food Issue.