...my favorite music intersects

I make no apologies...I'm a Springsteen fan, first and foremost. I have been for as long as I can remember and will remain such until I no longer remember anything else. But that is not where my musical tastes end...as I've mentioned in a previous post. Ever since I saw The Verve Pipe open for Toad the Wet Sprocket at the MSU Auditorium, I have been a fan of them as well. The love for their music has grown as they put out independant albums throughout the early-90s, signed with RCA in the mid-90s and were eventually dropped in the early 2000s. Even now that The Verve Pipe is all but broken up (no new albums since 2001), I have been following lead singer Brian Vander Ark's solo career through 2 albums and a handful of live shows. Never did I think that these two acts would ever intersect. Until recently, I just assumed these two loves would remain separate....

That is, until about a year ago when I caught a Brain Vander Ark setlist on his website which listed a song called "Badlands." Was this a new BVA song? Was it the Boss' song? I had to know. So, through the power of the internet, I did some digging. A few well-placed emails later, I found out that indeed, it WAS a Bruce Springsteen song....however, it was not "Badlands." No, instead, it was "Nebraska" which contains a line, 'through to the Badlands of Wyoming...' which, I'm sure, caused the confusion. Alas, two of my favorite artists have finally crossed paths musically! I couldn't believe it and I HAD to hear this song. Thankfully....again, because of the power of the internet....I was able to download a copy of of show where Vander Ark played "Nebraska." AWESOME! Later in the tour I got to see BVA in Ferndale, MI and this time it was not "Nebraska," instead he played "Used Cars."

Now this year Brian is out on a new tour promoting his new album 'Angel, Put Your Face On' and low and behold....the ultimate. Brian has now begun performing maybe the greatest song ever written (hyperbole meter reaching record levels). Could it be true? Has Brian really attempted to sing "Thunder Road"???? More so than "Nebraska" or "Used Cars"....I HAD to hear this. And thanks to Brian now producing some "official bootlegs" on his site, I was able to!

I was excited and a tad nervous about hearing Brian's rendition of "Thunder Road." After all, I think it's the best song ever written, I've heard it hundreds of times in dozens of different versions and I've heard some pretty bad cover versions. Hell, even the Boss has taken to "phoning it in" from time to time. I had no idea what to expect.

Well, the disk finally arrived last weekend. Of course when I popped it in the CD player, I HAD to jump straight to track 7. Cool, it starts with piano....my favorite version of the song is the 1975 solo-piano version. Man, there it is....BVA's voice singing, "The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways...." I had to give it a few listens to really get the full effect. But bottom line....it DID NOT disappoint! Sure, there might have been a few stumbles lyrically....but then, even the Boss does that. The important aspect of this song is the emotion. And that, Brian really nailed! He got the longing, the desperation. The song built up just the right intensity until it hit the climax, "...and when you get to the front porch they're gone on the wind....so Mary climb in...it's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win!" Just awesome....

So, there it is....possibly my two favorite artists intersecting musically. Seems kind of silly as I re-read this post...getting excited over something like that. Yeah, probably...but I just never thought it would happen. I hope Vander Ark continues to sing Springsteen songs....I hope he continues to dive into the vast cataloge of work. But I'm not sure anything could quite measure up to "Thunder Road."

This can be heard at Brian Vander Ark's myspace....

...I give thanks!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the States and I have a lot to be thankful for!

I am thankful for a healthy, active, inquisitive, smart, happy son Sam. He's 16 months-old now and I find it incredible how much he learns every day. he's beginning to mimic what we do and say....which can be a tad dangerous and this sailor needs to curb the language.

I am thankful for my lovely wife. She puts up with me when I'm moody...which is often. She's a great mom, she makes me laugh & smile. And now she's employed again.....NICE!

I am thankful for my family. We're all relatively healthy, happy and employed....what more can you ask for?

I am thankful for the Detroit Tigers and the incredible season they had. Sometimes you fall short of your ultimate goals, but nobody would have entertained the idea of the Tigers getting to the World Series. Thanks for a great year!

I am thankful for the Democrats victory in the House and Senate. Now PLEASE do something with it....and PLEASE find a good candidate for 2008!

I am thankful for Al Gore for providing us with the Internet! Where else could I bore the tens of people who might be reading this? Where else could I download a Springsteen setlist, a recipe for meatloaf, a concert that happened 12 hours ago, meet people from around the globe (some of which I actually met), read rumors about Tom Izzo coaching the MSU football team (please, PLEASE don't let this happen)?

I am thankful for beer. Strange thing to be thankful for? Maybe, but I like it and it's good.

I am thankful for The Office. No, not MY office where I go to work every Monday through Friday.....but the TV program The Office. It's friggin' hilarious! Before you start telling me how much better the British version is, let me tell you that I have it on my NetFlix queue so give it a rest!

Jeez....I sound like either a very boring individual or someone who is just ungrateful. Or maybe I just keep getting interrupted by work crap and I can't focus....

Anyway, to anyone still reading, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Try not to eat too much, drink too much or watch too much football. What I DO want you to do too much is enjoy your family (or whomever you're spending the holiday with).

...I give my perspective on this year's "Game of the Century!"

Hmmmm.....my Michigan grad brother told me that my next post should be a Sparty fan's perspective on the UM-OSU "Game of the Century." So here goes....

Well, it's about 2 hours till kick-off and I haven't really thought too hard about the game except to consider the hype. Is this game over-hyped? Hyped just right? Only thing I really know is that it hasn't been UNDER-hyped.....

So, my take....today's game is this year's "Game of the Century." I mean, isn't there one every year?

But, given more thought....it IS Michigan v. Ohio State, right? This is one of the biggest (the biggest?) rivalries in college football...maybe in sports. And the two teams ARE ranked #1 and #2. AND both teams are undefeated. Yep, this is definitely a HUGE game! Only problem....it isn't a national championship game. It's really too bad this game isn't being held in January! As a football fan and a Big Ten fan and a midwesterner.....HELL NO it isn't over-hyped. As a Spartan fan? Is it still football season? Have we found our next coach who'll lead us UP to mediocrity yet?

The last two football seasons have left me cold and bitter. Michigan State has squandered talent and have actually gotten worse in each season. I have tried very hard not to let this bitterness turn to envy of the maize and blue or the scarlet and grey football programs. I mean I really dislike both teams (respect the programs...how can you not?)....and if they BOTH could lose this game, I wouldn't mind in the least. Sorry, that was the envy talking.

So really, after all this rambling of mine and reading and re-reading what I have typed....and deleting and re-typing....I just can't grasp the gravity of this game. I know both my brother's are probably nervous as Hell right now. They are both sad over the passing of Bo. They'll both be glued to their respective TVs in a few hours. Man, I want to feel that during football season. It's been way too long since I've been able to get THAT excited about a football game. Have I EVER gotten THAT excited? I'm not a big enough basketball fan to use the tired MSU mantra, "Wait 'till basketball season!"

So, back to the game. Who do I want to win? Who do I think will win? Do I care who wins? These are difficult questions to answer as a Sparty fan. One the one hand, if I say I'm rooting for OSU, my brothers will call "Sour grapes!" One the other hand, if I say Michigan, my Sparty friends will cry, "Traitor!" If I decide that I won't root for a winner, only a good, close game, then I really won't be able to get into the game as much as a game of this magnitude really deserves. What to do? What to do? Should I flip a coin?

I think today I'm going with my arch-enemy....today I'm going to root for Michigan. Traitor or not, I'm pulling for Michigan. I can't believe I typed it, but I'm gonna root for Michigan. After all, aren't they the sentimental favorites now? Aren't they the underdogs? And after the sad news of Bo's passing, doesn't it just seem right?

RIP Bo....you will be missed! Go Blue! (but only today)

...I try to explain what type music I like.

A little while ago someone asked me what my favorite kind of music is. For me, that's a tough question.....as proven by this next post....

Well, for me, there's Bruce Springsteen and then there's everybody else. So really, it starts like this....

1. Bruce Springsteen (with or without the E Street Band)

Now, this is where it gets dicey....not sure if I could rank my "favorites" because it changes day-to-day, week-to-week, or pretty much every time I rotate the CDs in my car. So, how to answer? Do I just list artists based on who I've listened to most over the years? Should I list genres that have been favorites over the years? Too much pressure here....

OK, favorite artists...in no particular order...after, of course, after the mighty Boss...

Bob Dylan
The Verve Pipe / Brian Vander Ark
Wilco
Ryan Adams
The Clash
REM
The Replacements
Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers

I really could go on and on...instead I'll just talk (type) until I bore whoever might be reading.....

My love for music really does begin and end with one Mr. Springsteen....started in 1984 with Born in the USA and since I've gone backwards and forwards listening to influences OF The Boss (Dylan, Beatles, Johnny Cash, etc.) and those who have been influenced BY The Boss (The BoDeans, Mellencamp, Ryan Adams, and yes, even the Killers....actually, I'm not too impressed with the Killers).

Lately, it has been the oft misnamed "Alt Country" genre which had caught my attention. I say "misnamed" because this tag runs the gambit from Wilco (not very country at all anymore) to Lucinda Williams (every bit country) to Johnny Cash (the KING of country...IMO) and might be more appropriately labeled "Americana". BTW, The August definitely fits into this category.....whether country-phobes want to admit it or not. This figurative journey along the two-lane highways, through towns with one stop light and three bars, across dusty back roads, from Detroit to Arizona and everywhere in between.....has introduced me to incredible artists like....

Wilco, Ryan Adams backward to Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown
Johnny Cash (was there anyone cooler?)
Lucinda Williams (her album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is one of America's finest)
The Jayhawks
back to the 70s to Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt (Townes is one of the greatest American songwriters, second maybe only to Dylan)

Anyway, where does this leave me? Long-winded, full of too much self-importance, by myself because everyone else stopped reading, all of the above....

Wow, why can't I just answer a simple question?

...I introduce my blog.

Hello out there in cyberspace....

My name is Rob and this is my blog. (I wonder how many blogs start off that way? Too many, I'm sure...)

Not sure what I want this blog to be, or what I want it to say, or who I'm trying to reach....but it's all about the journey....the destination, for the most part, is irrelevant.

My guess is that sometimes I will post about music, sometimes I will post about sports, sometimes I will post about my 16 month-old son....but I will ALWAYS post about what I'm feeling at the time. Sometimes what I post will make sense....often it won't. Sometimes it will be interesting....often it won't.

I welcome feedback....let me know if I'm full of crap, if what I've said has meant something to you. You can tease me about my Spartans, you can make fun of my grey hair, you can tell me how cute my son is, correct my grammer, you can even call me late for dinner....it's all good.

So, with that....thanks for reading, hope you like something I post in the future. I'll leave you with a few CDs I've been listening to recently....

Lucinda Williams - Live November 10, 2006 - Bootleg w.s.g Bruce Springsteen
Brian Vander Ark - Angel, Put Your Face On

Take care....