Long Island Sound

So I had a gig out on Long Island last week, it was at a nice, unassuming, outdoor amphitheater. It had a backstage area and changing rooms. Right behind the stage there was a waiting area where past performers had their pictures hanging on the wall. Performers such as:














That's right: Shania's Twin. A tribute to Shania Twain.

But I didn't get really excited until I realized I was about to be on the same stage that had been occupied by:














Sync In. An N Sync tribute band. God, I wish the photo hadn't come out blurry.
But then I saw this:














And realized....ok, so this stage hasn't been performed on exclusively by cheesy tribute bands. That's Richie Havens and Celia Cruz. Just in time, I felt better about heading out onto the stage.

Demon Wisdom Tooth

this isn't exactly cutting-edge news, but this is the monstrous chunk of enamel they pulled out of my head, complete with evil hook.

Afterwards, I met author Frank McCourt on the street.

Nil, baby, nil

I'm watching Rudy Giuliani speak at the Republican National Convention. Smug, self-righteous bastard.

SO FUCKING AWFUL.

People actually buy this shit? Are you kidding me?

It makes me really scared, but mostly really sad.

"Drill, baby, drill," the crowd chants, like the brain-dead sheep they are. I am not going to compare with anything like, say, the Nazi's in the '30s, but....step one towards that?

Oh wait, here comes Sarah Palin (the gun-toting, homophobic NRA member with a pregnant 17 year-old)...

...and she has them all drooling like Pavlov's dogs.
"America"
(crowd drools and cheers)
"9/11"
(crowd drools and cheers)
"I'm a mayor."
(crowd drools and cheers)
"Nonsensical gibberish about fishing and eBay."
(crowd drools and yuks)
"Talking shit about Obama. Fabrications and rhetoric. Repetition of 'community organizer.'"
(crowd drools and claps)

thank god she stopped before I vomited all over my keyboard. Oh wait, here's McCain.