Monday, September 10, 2012

Listen, There's Music in the Air

And NFL football, too. In honor of yesterday's real opening day, some kickass rock and roll from post-punk legend Bob Mould, who ripped through a 20-song set at the 9:30 Club Saturday night that has my ears still ringing. Mould played all of Sugar's 1992 record, Copper Blue, before taking a break to talk to the crowd. Then the band proceeded to play off of Mould's new record, Silver Age, which features 'The Descent', a return to Mould's power pop roots:



The band closed with Husker Du's 'Could You Be the One', an apt ode to my new football rooting experiment.



Capped off the evening with a chili half smoke from Ben's Chili Bowl, so my intestines were well prepared to make things uncomfortable for my neighbors at our Saints/Skins viewing party.

Happy Football.

90 comments:

Geoff said...

The confluence of RG3's arrival and rob's departure from Redskins nation marked the high water mark of the last 21 years. Thanks rob!

T.J. said...

how did the first day of saints fandom treat you, tiny? did you invest enough in your new team to even feel shitty when they lost to the skins?

T.J. said...

happy 4th birthday, Large Hadron Collider

rob said...

interesting question, teej. i would describe my feelings during the game as mild annoyance. had no problem not caring about the skins, but working on developing a real affinity for the saints. i think it'll take time.

but skins fans have a lot to be excited about - that offensive gameplan was terrific, and rg3's poise is evident. like an old girlfriend with whom i had an amicable breakup, i wish you well. but don't call me a 2:00 am looking for some nookie. especially you, geoff.

T.J. said...

Skins fans need to temper this enthusiasm, but given the last two decades of QB impotence, I guess it's understandable the reaction to yesterday's performance. There is film on RGIII now, and not every defense will have corpses like Roman Harper covering Washington wide outs, but all told, impressive. I am curious if Geoff, Mayhugh, Whit would still be happy with 8-8, or if yesterday's stellar debut has them dreaming of 10-6 or better and a playoff run.

Mind you, I root for a team that starts Mark Sanchez, and after yesterday, I'm thinking SB or Bust.

Jerry said...

It's not good for the Nats.

T.J. said...

Very true, Jerome.

rob said...

the who?

T.J. said...

rob, when do you replace the Red Sox with, say, the A's?

rob said...

that ain't happening, as much as i cringe at this shitshow of a season. in fact, clarence and i recently discussed the possibility of resurrecting misery loves company. stay tuned.

Jerry said...

This seems like a good time to get on Craig for picking f'ing Queensland over New South Wales in State of Origin even though we were in New South Wales for 6 weeks and Queensland for 3 days. Total bullshit. And Queensland wins every year. What a dick. Fucking bullshit.

Geoff said...

I would be thrilled with 8-8. But, I'm guessing if you surveyed the DC Skins fans, avg prediction right now would be 11-5 or better.

I think next week will be a back to earth week for RG3. Skins have a bad history against the Rams and I think they lose next week.

mayhugh said...

I was out at open houses when the game was on (and probably didn't get home until halfway through the 4th quarter) and somehow managed to avoid hearing/seeing a score update all day. That's hard these days - turned the smart phones off, had the tv set to a non-sports channel when I turned it on to get to the DVR, and yelled at my fiance's brother at the same time he was opening the front door while I was still watching so he would not say anything about the results.

Watching the game, I really couldn't quite get over my excitement that they were winning a game AND consistently moving the ball/scoring. They looked competent, prepared, and well coached (until maybe the last 5 minutes of the game, anyway). But I'd say my excitement was confined to a micro level - I was excited they were winning/looking good in ONE specific game and I wasn't applying what I was seeing to a bigger picture. Nor do I care to now/yet. Like the players, I plan to take these one game at a time.

I also don't think RGIII will start more than 10 games this season. Contrary to the radio waves (who seem to think one impressive offensive performance negates all question marks), I still think the offensive line is shoddy in pass protection. Combine that with the scheme (assuming it stays basically static) and his scrambling style, I just don't see how he could possibly get through a season without even some minor dings that put him out a week or two at a time.

T.J. said...

see, those are the tempered replies of smart, rational Skins fans...the rest of the Redskin Universe is way more off their rockers because of one game

zman said...

I've decided that most people are neither smart nor rational, which explains the stupid irrationality found across every fanbase of every team of every kind.

Geoff said...

I'm watching hours of tapes of focus groups with Ohio voters all day today. Universal suffrage is overrated.

zman said...

You didn't build that focus group Geoff.

Geoff said...

Nope. How would they have gotten there without roads, bridges, entitlements, etc.

So far no less than two people thought the Todd Akin rape comment was actually made by Mitt Romney.

zman said...

Mitt Romney is a Baptist?

Greg said...

I'm picturing Mayhugh at open houses.

Jerry said...

This den would make a great play room for our cat.

mayhugh said...

We have three cats, Jerry. I'll show you pictures some time. It's no mustaches and mopeds...

zman said...

Anyone with more than one cat is eccentric.

T.J. said...

Did Mayhugh name the three cats after:
- the Fun Bunch
- the Three Stooges
- the Musketeers
- Columbus' ships

mayhugh said...

i did not name the cats but if I had the option to rename them, I would name them Maverick, Goose and Sundown.

zman said...

Andy Murray already won more sets today than all of his previous grand slam finals. Some astute guy said he could win this thing a few matches ago.

zman said...

Kiss of death.

Danimal said...

was just about to ask if you had jinxed anyone recently.

i became the co-owner of 2 cats when i allowed my then steady and current wife to brings hers along. i guess that woul make me hard up.

rob said...

i have two cats, both with red sox-related names

zman said...

We have two cats. Mine is named after Nina Simone. My wife got hers because mine is so cool and named it after culinary garnish.

zman said...

Djokavic with a touch shot for the first time ever!

zman said...

And a net game?

Danimal said...

One of ours is Sheffield....a stray found in Chicago on Sheffield near Wrigley. the other is Samson. Not sure why.

zman said...

Murray might be coming re-glued.

zman said...

"fuck you and your slice!" says Murray.

zman said...

Papa djOkavic is going to bum rush the umpire.

zman said...

Murray is stupid shookat the net. Clueless.

T.J. said...

zman is the Bud Collins of G:TB

zman said...

Fifth set.

zman said...

I wish heineken's beer was as good as its ads.

zman said...

Teedge is the Mary carrillo.

T.J. said...

she's useful as an analyst, no? I, on the other hand, have yet to even turn to this match

zman said...

Teedge is the OJ Simpson.

zman said...

Murray's backhand is his better side but he's swinging it very tentatively. Either he's hurt or he's uptight.

T.J. said...

Juice, much better

zman said...

Wow. Maybe that's the plan? Hit zero pace and make djokavic hit out?

T.J. said...

the Rocky 3 move? he's trying to tire Clubber Djokovic out?

I NOW WHAT I'M DOING

zman said...

Do they have replacement refs in tennis too? Lots of late calls.

zman said...

Who is worse at his job: Murray's barber or his orthodontist?

T.J. said...

trick question, as Brits do not have orthodontists

zman said...

You need to turn on CBS.

zman said...

I haven't seen anyone come to net this much in years. Or this many slice backhand. Weirdly old school, maybe due to wind.

zman said...

James bond is in the house.

T.J. said...

I am watching this tennis now...

zman said...

Wow. Murray up two breaks. I wish they would cut away to a pub in Scotland.

zman said...

Sean Connery got your attention.

T.J. said...

Novak looks like he has Nolegs left

zman said...

Bananas.

T.J. said...

Murray is going to choke this one away, isn't he?

Danimal said...

Just got on an 18-seater from Denver to North Platte Nebraska. Wings reincarnated. Pilots donning shoes for crews, knock off Ray Bans and black dockers. Pleated.

zman said...

Will QE2 run out and knight him in Flushing or does Murray have to go back to merry olde for the ceremony?

zman said...

Tuuurrible linesmen.

zman said...

It's been like that all match.

zman said...

God save the queen.

T.J. said...

congrats, British dude. now back to Ravens/Bengals

Mr KQ said...

She ain't no human being.

T.J. said...

this game sucks...can those two guys play a few more sets?

Mark said...

Missed all the Murray match playing pickup basketball. Glad he won though. I will now go another 34 years before I root for a British guy.

We have one cat. And two pit bulls. I don't really claim the cat. I just tolerate it. The pit bulls are really cool though.

zman said...

Lost in all this is the rhombus of rob's cats, Everett and Offerman.

zman said...

Valentin and valentine? Renteria and Ramiro?

TR said...

Who's gonna do the hard research here and figure out what the fuck is going on with Gruden's receding hairline?

TR said...

Berman time!

TR said...

Berman is re-balding.

T.J. said...

this is why we need an intern, important research projects such as the Gruden hairline

TR said...

Have we incorporated Gheorghemerica yet?

T.J. said...

nope. one of the lawyer fellas needs to do that for us.

zman said...

I think gruden relies on a carefully curated selection of hair cut, placement, and spackle.

zman said...

Who Is worse at his job: Murray's orthodontist or Norv's dermatologist?

T.J. said...

Norv's dermatologist is melty-face guy from Raiders

zman said...

Where would we incorporate? Delaware? Romania?

Danimal said...

great book rec - Lawless - Matt Bondurant

Clarence said...

Of all the name changes on the Gheorghe roster, none puzzles me more than TJ becoming G:TB. Is he speaking for all of us? Is he the Everygheorghe? I don't like it.

T.J. said...

i had to create another google account for all my sb nation stuff...settle down, beavis. no one is stealing your voice

TR said...

While we're on the topic of book recommendations, you should really spend some time with Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. She wrote Seabiscuit. Unbelievable WWII POW story.

zman said...

Can we get Norv a looser shirt?

mayhugh said...

Yeah, I think he's migrated into an XL.

The Raiders are a sham. McFadden is their whole team.

zman said...

Very somber here at 250 Greenwich and its environs.

TR said...

The 9/11 vibe is very subdued in NY (outside of downtown). This is a good thing for me. The local papers aren't as focused on it.

Two coincidences - 9/11/01 was a Tuesday, like today. And it was a brilliantly blue sky, like today.

Whitney said...

Somber is as it should be. We may take life less seriously here, but on a date forever marred by horrifically murderous acts against not just this country but this circle of friends, it can get pretty serious and pretty sad.

It's also a day for conversations with my kids. The unfortunate ones about when bad things happen to good people, but also the ones about my goofy old friend Lud, who laid waste to metaphorical expression while always being the one to give you the shirt off a duck's back, and my goofy old friend Scoop, who kept alive my waning interest in the Dead when I was in college. Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there.

rob said...

i've spent the morning working on a proposal for the fbi, a group with whom i spent a ton of time post 9/11. a tad surreal here. the similarity in the color of the sky is not a little noteworthy.