Coachella Misses You, Too - Pt. 3

I love how something spawned by this festival can translate into news across the country. Naturally, the biggest news about this year's Coachella is the "one-time" reunion of Rage Against the Machine. News of this reverberated everywhere as RATM are one of the most vocal politically-powered bands of the current generation... and also one of the most ferocious and excitable live acts, as well. A few days after the announcement of the Coachella bill (that included RATM), I was told about this at my job here in suburban Atlanta. At the Lily Allen show I went to on Monday, there was talk about the Rage reunion also. It just gives me a smile to be a part of something that's so incredibly noteworthy... even though, in all honesty, I really couldn't care about RATM.

With that said, here's the last of the three-part series of what I'm looking forward to about this year's Coachella lineup. This final installment focuses on the last day, Sunday, April 29.


Courtesy of cybele malinowski.

Klaxons - I've heard this band on Left of Center (Sirius 26) enough times to really form judgement, especially since I've heard three of their songs now as well as an interview with the band. All of the statements about this band somehow tapping into the future are true - how this band sounds fits perfectly into the framework of the year 2207. Yes, that's right, their sound is two hundred years ahead of their mortal bodies. They've talked about how rave culture applies to their music, but it's also indie sounding. I mean, in "Atlantis to Interzone", there are sirens going off, minimal lyrics (saying "Atlantis" and "Interzone" x-amount of times doesn't suffice as a "lyric"), tremendous beats, and Britishness beyond belief. The future is now with this band and I entirely expect them to be "buzzworthy" at this year's Coachella. Personally, I cannot stand the track I just mentioned, but "Golden Skans" is very tolerable. I really like joining the band in their "ooh-woo-ooh-woo - OOH!" that they have going on throughout the track (hm, you need to hear it to understand). I just heard another new one the other day, but it didn't stand out. When it comes down to it though, I might visit the Mojave (because they will own this tent early in the evening) and see the reaction they are getting. People will either go berzerk over it or they will be lambasted with palm trees; it's a toss-up at this point.


Courtesy of Danny North.

The Kooks - I'm ready to take bets here - who will join who on stage for "Naive" - Lily Allen joins The Kooks or vice versa? Place your bets now!



Lily Allen - She created significant buzz over the summer with her UK-released debut Alright, Still, and she's already whining about playing her own songs to get more recognition Stateside. So who knows what kind of set we'll get at Coachella. But you cannot deny her cuteness or her wit with her songs. Some of the tunes fall a little flat, but the ones that are strong are pretty much unstoppable. As I said earlier, I saw her here in Atlanta on Monday and I was already curious about the show after reading that NME article (oh, credibility!) from Saturday. Despite her "boredom" with her songs, she carried herself nicely throughout the show. I could notice moments of, "Ugh, gotta do this AGAIN," attitude, but her songs held up and she let out a few chuckles every once in a while. When I asked her afterwards about Coachella ("See you at Coachella! Are you excited about it?"), all I got was a simple, "Oh, yes!" Hmm.


Courtesy of Serena Sundai.

Placebo - Brian Molko is back, and he has an agenda this time, folks - PURRRRRRREEEEE MORNNNNNNING! Uh huh. That aside, my only experience with Placebo is during the Black Market Music phase of their career. I did enjoy that album (to an extent) and ended up seeing them live on the resulting North American tour. The show left much to be desired for me, and revealing a hiding Brian Molko from the masses outside of the venue made it all worthwhile. Apparently their recent album Meds is something worth investing time into. We'll see about that one. I see a late afternoon Coachella Stage appearance, possibly similar to Muse's slot in '04. I just hope the IEH isn't too much for the kids in southern Cali.

Crowded House - I really couldn't believe that this was true when I first heard it. Their drummer killed himself several years ago and they were complete 80s has-beens. I just couldn't justify why they were on the lineup. But alas, they are there. I'm definitely interested in hearing how the Finns are doing these days and how those tunes are holding up. If worse comes to worse, get Six Pence None the Richer to come and complete the set... or just sing "Don't Dream It's Over".


Courtesy of Guy Eppel.

Kaiser Chiefs - I could've sworn that parts of their last big hit here ("I Predict a Riot") sounded like the Ramones. This time, "Ruby" is completely infectious. They'll probably go on right after Placebo and get the crowd all riled up for the evening session.



Explosions in the Sky pic courtesy of cyberkode.

Explosions in the Sky/Air - Here's the conflict everyone hopes to avoid this year. Everyone knows how good Air is live, especially after their out-of-body experience in '04. Also, a lot of people know how ridiculously mindblowing EITS is in the live setting. Both bands appeal to those who long for "sunset sets". I fall into each sentence I've said so far. I've seen Air twice and loved 'em both times. I recently saw EITS for the first time in a packed, sweaty club that they blew apart. Both bands are pretty amazing live. Please, for the love of God, Goldenvoice has to really examine this possible conflict.

Thrashers Update-a-roos!

It's been a while since the last Thrashers update, so hopefully I can get back on track a bit. Suddenly, I find myself stuck blogless (in terms of Thrashers-related stuffs) as I did after my Raleigh adventures. Remembering that event, I entered into the wonderful black hole in terms of writing and basically missed out on the trade deadline, where the Thrashers beefed up the lineup to what it is today with Tkachuk, Zhitnik, and DOO-PWEEZ. Now, I find myself struggling to meet the needs when this squad is at the tail end of their great season, still fighting harder than ever. And here I am, still missing out on posts. One excuse that I can make, however, is that, when I wax Thrashers, I usually do it in recap fashion (i.e. after I actually watch a game). For the past few games (since the Montreal game, obv), I've either watched portions of games or haven't watched at all. And who wants to hear someone ramble on about a game that they watched only 10 minutes of, you know?

Meh.

Placement Placement Placement... Just Take Charge!
Currently, the Thrashers sit atop the Southeast Division with a four point lead over Floridian pests Tampa Bay. There are no games in hand here, so if the Thrashers keep up their game, as does Tampa, Atlanta will be sitting pretty come April 7th at Philips. Things aren't that simple, unfortunately. Six of the next eight games for the Thrashers are against legitimate playoff contenders, whereas Tampa plays five of their next eight against similar teams. The home ice advantage also goes toward Tampa as they play 3/4 of their remaining matches at home, as the Thrash do four at home and four on the road. What really needs to be the factor is that the bigger team needs to stand tall right now. Despite however you look at the circumstances surrounding these upcoming eight games, each game day must be met with a clean slate. Focusing too much on extraneous factors will only take a toll on the members of a team, if not the entire team. The Thrashers absolutely must not fold at this point in the season. Hopefully we got all of that garbage out of the way during the February road trip, or February altogether. At least we don't have Mike Dunham as the stalwart goaltender this season. No choking allowed, boys. Worry about where you are in the conference after the season... or don't worry about it at all! Just come to the rink each game day and PLAY - it really is that simple.



Strong Isle REP-RAZENT!
First, he finally jumped the hurdle and made it into camp last summer. Then he got signed. Now, it's Dave Caruso - "hometown" favorite. This was a great story for Jeff Francouer (sp?) with the Braves a few years ago... in a town that's kinda crazy about baseball. But for a hockey goalie to make it... from GEORGIA... IN Georgia? I can't say it enough about this story, and I only hope that it continues to pan out for the guy - but this is so awesome.

Damn, here's where the bias comes into play!

Off the bat, I heard that Caruso was right out of school - I graduated from school last December, so I feel ya on that one, Dave. After I got word that he was originally from Long Island, I found out this guy is officially my homeboy. And then there was this article that hit the presses today, saying he is from not just Long Island, but Hicksville. Instantly, there were tears in my eyes. If only he were Polish, then it would be over. But seriously, this is the ultimate story of someone from my hometown making it, and making it HERE. Anytime there is any word of someone from your hometown, your high school, etc. making a splash, you follow it. Hell, I never even went to the school, but because I'm tied to it by my girlfriend's family (because she went there, as well as her brother, and her mom teaches right by there), I will always follow Calvin Johnson because he's a graduate of Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone.

The moral of this story is that anyone can make it anywhere. There are times when that's incredibly hard to believe, but it's so relieving to know that things like this really do happen. Keep it up, Dave, we're pulling for ya!

Dangerous Fins, Bite?
Tomorrow's matchup at Philips includes a skirmish with a pretty powerful Sharks team from San Jose - second in their division and sixth in the West. In the middle of a four game east-coast trip, these Sharks will also be in the hunt for more. The Dallas Stars are only one point behind them in the division and San Jose is only one point behind fifth place Minnesota. This is still a crucial game for the Thrashers, so there's no need to go into the details about this game for them. This game won't pan out like a typical mid-season game, like how it was when Anaheim came to town back in January. So don't expect San Jose to come out flat. They have one of the best power play units in the league and a great one-two goalie tandem with Nabokov and Toskala. Dominant forwards Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek, and Johnathan Cheechoo stand strong, along with new acquisition Bill Guerin. They also have a great young crop of players, including Steve Bernier, Matt Carle, and recent scoring threat Ryane Clowe. This isn't a team to second guess, that's for sure. It'll prove to be a great game. The Sharks play tonight against struggling Chicago, then get a few zzz's in time for the Atlanta game, which'll feature a Thrashers team that's rested since Sunday's winning performance against Buffalo. While it could take a while for the goalies to get a little warmed up (especially since SJS loves to rotate their goalies), I'm sure the offense will take charge and early scoring should be rewarded come the end of the game. We'll see how this one pans out... hopefully I can get my paws on some tickets and make it up to the Phil for some Thrashin'.

The Great Debate...

...at least something that's rattling my brain lately. Hearing the recent broadcasts on the Thrashers games, I keep on hearing something that's really unsettling.



Now one thing we can agree on is PASCAL. PASS-CAL. It makes sense. But...

DOO-PWEE or DOO-PWEEZ

???

It's driving me CRAY-ZEE!

Coachella Misses You, Too - Pt. 2

Yesterday, I went over what interested me from the first nite of this year's Coachella. Tonite, I'll continue the trend and go over Saturday.


Courtesy of kathryn.

Fields - After writing about 'em more than a month ago, I'm still lovin' me some Fields. Their debut album, Everything Last Winter, hits the shelves on the 3rd of April. If it's anything like their great EP, "7 From the Village", then we're in for a treat. To have an early appearance in Gobi would be a safe assumption.


Courtesy of mediaeater.

The Fratellis - Don't let the acoustics mislead you with this group. I've only heard a couple of tracks from their album Costello Music and I know I must see these guys live. If "Chelsea Dagger" doesn't sound like a stereotypical downing-a-pint-in-a-packed-pub track, I don't know what does. That song just makes me want to drink Guinness... and I hate Guinness. Regardless, The Fratellis have a ton of energy, and I'm looking forward to catching 'em at Coach. They just announced a tour with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, but, unfortunately, they aren't on the dates that bring them to Atlanta (or the Birmingham show, which I'd rather attend). With that said, seeing The Fratellis is high on my list.


Courtesy of kathryn.

Peter, Bjorn & John - While everyone went crazy over "Young Folks" last month (and possibly earlier) and how PB&J apparently invaded New York City, I was going nuts over another track from their recent album, Writer's Block. The fourth track on their myspace player is the one that gets me each and every time - "The Chills". I love the drumbeat and how it really carries the song. I do appreciate the band for what they do, but that track is, right now, one of my favorite tracks of the year.


Courtesy of Emdashes.com.

The New Pornographers - I was vaguely familiar with this band before the release of Twin Cinema and the thing that happened to stick out with them was "low-fi". I just had this impression that this band was about quiet-time with poor mic setups and four-track recordings. I still haven't delved into their back catalogue, but I'm glad I got over that mindset because I really dig Twin Cinema. It's just a loud, in-your-face production record with concise songwriting. I could see a late afternoon set on the Outdoor Theater stage, getting ready for sunset. That would be nice.


Courtesy of jonathas.

The Good, The Bad & The Queen - First off, yeah, the pic isn't the best out there, but because I'm a sucker for Lost, I couldn't deny using a pic from a venue that includes a Dharma-esque logo as their own. Back to the subject at hand... I have never cared for Blur. I have never cared for Gorillaz. I have certainly never cared for Damon Albarn. So you'd think that the odds are stacked against this band with me. For now, you're close to right, but things are starting to turn around. For days, I couldn't get "Herculean" out of my head and the only thing I could think about was how it would sound out in the desert. Also, "History Song" isn't half that bad. Considering this is only a one-album type deal for this superband, maybe they should hold it together while Graham Coxon figures out whether he wants to come back to Blur territory. Their material does appear promising, and I'm sure that this Coachella appearance will really enhance their image in this country.


Courtesy of mediaeater.

The Arcade Fire - Ah, the cream of the crop. You can't hate on this band. Mayyyyyybe it's possible after just hearing their albums. Hell, I'll admit that it took me a while to really get why people were FREAKING OUT over Funeral. But I finally did get it, and I realized it was pretty stinkin' good. After a couple friends of mine saw The Arcade Fire a few months before Coachella, they couldn't stop talking about their live show. Then, I saw footage from their appearance on Conan. Then I saw some interview clips, along with some more live performances. I was slowly getting it - but I didn't have the whole picture in perspective. And then there was me strongly urging my friends to stay after Tegan and Sara's set in '05 to catch this band that, really, I had no experience with in the live setting. I was only going on word of mouth at this point. Turns out that this was the set that stole the weekend, if not the year. Now, I find myself two years later still freaking out about this band, a band that I last saw at that Coachella. Since then, this band has opened for U2, recorded and released a new album, and almost conquered the universe. It's hard to imagine them going on right before the icky Red Hot Chili Peppers, and that's probably the case. While I'd love to have them close out the Outdoor Theater (that they happen to pwn), that's doubtful and I know that this is one band that you can always rely on to amaze you in the live setting.

Coachella Misses You, Too - Pt. 1

Ok, so I just received a suspicious email, but it turned out to be wonderful news! After getting word that my tickets to Coachella 2007 are now on their way, I figured that now would be a great time to go over some of the bands that I'm aiming for come the end of April. Either that, or bands/groups that will be on my radar for that weekend. First, let's go over Friday's acts. By clicking on the band's respective pic, that'll bring you to their myspace.


Courtesy of Rocco Kasby.

Tilly and the Wall - I saw them open for Rilo Kiley a couple of years ago and it was a complete schtick act. For some songs, the band's main percussive force is at least one member's tap shoes. While I did find it amusing for a bit, I just couldn't get into the music. I'm sure my girlfriend's love for this band only enhanced my displeasure, seeing how I had to listen to them ALL THE TIME. But you know what - sometimes people come around, including myself. When I found out Tilly and the Wall had a new album, I downloaded it for my girlfriend, like a good fella should do. It so happens that I added it to my iTunes library and, one day, on shuffle, a track from this new album (Bottoms of Barrels) came on and I wasn't instantly repelled by its sound. The track was "Lost Girls" and I think I actually liked it. After listening to the album recently, I came to the conclusion that it wasn't all that bad... and maybe they, as a band, weren't that poor afterall. Assuming that they are one of the earlier acts in the afternoon, I might consider giving them a shot.


Courtesy of andrewkendall.

Amy Winehouse - She's been getting a lot of crap lately, considering that the's cancelling shows left and right, reportedly due to her extracurricular habits (i.e. drinking). With that said, however, there's no denying her voice and how rich it is. I really don't relate to her music that much, but I don't avert my ears whenever I hear "Rehab" in my car. I moreso think it's a bit ironic (and it probably isn't), but that's just me.


Courtesy of Jamarr.

Silversun Pickups - Now this is where it gets good. They played a show here in Atlanta sometime in the summer and I just missed out on the opportunity. After the buzz generated from that show, I decided to snag a copy of their album, Carnavas, and I absolutely loved it. I've wanted to see this band ever since, and I haven't been able to. I can see this band having a slot like Wolfmother had last year - later on in the afternoon in Mojave. This is my first "must-see" band at this festival, and I'll be damned if I miss out on 'em.

Comedians of Comedy - For some reason, I have a feeling that Zach Galifianakis won't be there. If he isn't, I don't know if I'll stick around for a few minutes during their time slot. Can someone confirm whether or not he'll be there, along with the others?


Courtesy of studio 520.

Tokyo Police Club - "Nature of the Experiment" is a nice taste of Canadian rock. I haven't had much of a chance to devote much time to their EP, A Lesson in Crime, but I know I'll be putting it into my rotation in the coming weeks because of the obvious. They're coming to town in a few weeks, too, opening for Cold War Kids. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make that due to my new job, but hopefully I can catch a few tunes at their Coach appearance.


Courtesy of Guy Eppel.

Peaches - I fully expect to get all sweaty, greasy, and sexxed up whenever I see Peaches. I'd like to say that it's a love-hate relationship with her, but I disagree. I don't love her, and I don't hate her. I had a great time seeing her back in July . I'm sure I'll see her and the rest of the Herms on the Outdoor Theater stage under the stars, probably with a slot like Eagles of Death Metal's last year (after 8PM).


Courtesy of Nick Helderman.

Sonic Youth - I'm still wondering how a band like Sonic Youth can exist for 25 years and still be a powerhouse on the indie rock scene. I mean, Rather Ripped, their 15th studio album, nearly topped several "Best Of" lists at the end of 2006. How is that possible? I'll tell you how - because they will blow yr mind! I saw 'em with Mary Timony in August of '02, right after Murray Street came out. I couldn't believe how good they were and how their improvising really fit in so well with the "traditional" songs. I wouldn't be surprised if they closed out the Outdoor Theater, and, if they do, I'll be there.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Let me just say this - I'm completely unfamiliar with this band. From what little I HAVE heard, however, it certainly hasn't been that bad. There's a good possibility that I'll check this out on sheer noteworthiness. I'm probably a moron for being that far out of the loop when it comes to bands like this.


Courtesy of andrewkendall.

Interpol - Do I really care about Interpol anymore? This performance might make or break it. Let's face it - everyone loved their first record. Their second seemed like a retread of their debut, and it got them more commercial notoriety. I loved 'em the first time I saw them when they sold out the Cotton Club. Then they came back during the Curiosa tour and I could've cared less. Apparently they have a new record in the works. The Coachella crowd will definitely get a taste of some of the newies. But how will it be received? Like I said - do we really care?


Courtesy of Waltzzz.

Bjork - I never got Bjork. When her Greatest Hits album came out a few years ago, I bought it, wanting to appreciate her material. I figured that that was the time to really get started with liking Bjork, or just getting a good taste of her material. Well, I just could not get into it. I can like the music, but I just cannot get past her voice... or her antics. After watching the footage of her '02 appearance on the DVD, it only reminded me that maybe I should continue to give her a chance. Maybe this is fate's way of messing with me and my preferences and that I'm destined to cross paths with her on April 27th.

Recap & Photos: The Thermals & The Big Sleep

Thursday nite I kinda-sorta took a gamble and made my way to Atlanta's Drunken Unicorn to get a taste of Portland, Oregon's The Thermals and Brooklyn's The Big Sleep. I've known about The Thermals for a few years now, but I've always neglected to look into them some more. Apparently 2006 was a big year for them as their album The Blood The Body The Machine did not go unnoticed and ended up on a few top-10 lists as "Best in '06" material. As is the norm, with a bunch of hype, I want to see if it's worth buying into. So I got a copy of said album and it wasn't too bad. I don't think it was as good as some lists were making it out to be, but it was a nice listen. The tracks were a little repetitive, but not that that's a bad thing. I just wasn't gripped to listen to the album time and time again, the way amazing releases do.

When I found out that they were coming to Atlanta, touring behind this record, I decided I'd try it out and see what they have to offer. Well, I was pretty much blown away. And that's what I love about live shows - you take a record that is OK, have the band play it live, and it becomes sonically destroying. The show on Thursday nite was a non-stop rock fest and The Thermals really brought it out. Despite their backup guitar player hobbling around on crutches prior to their set and nursing an obviously hurting ankle, all four of 'em brought it on stage. What I also loved about this show was the antics of singer Hutch Harris. I mean, can a guy be any more dramatic during a show? It was all done in a cheesy kinda fashion, but I still appreciated the crap out of it.



Also, I never heard them before (but read some about them in blogs), but The Big Sleep opened for The Thermals and they were surprisingly awesome. They played some loud, murky riffs that just tore the roof off the Unicorn and didn't need vocals to get their point across. A few songs did have some vocals, but their music was just so ferocious and moving. They were just really good. Glad that I got there early enough to catch their set.

More photos can be found at the flickr site, but here are some samples. The Thermals' setlist is also on flickr, if you're interested in what they played.







The Thermals' myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thethermals
The Big Sleep's myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sonofthetiger

vs. Le Habs - 2007/03/08

Wow, so THAT was a game! It was apparent that Huet was not even a blip on Montreal's radar tonite. That just goes to show you how crucial goaltending is in this sport. While Huet was struggling before his season-ending injury, he is still a force to be reckoned with, and that was proven when he (and I guess the rest of the Habs, too) dominated the last time the Thrash hosted 'em back in January.

Starting tonite was 21 year-old rookie Jaroslav Halak, someone who the Canadiens suggested would be their man in the net to make their run to the playoffs... over somewhat-seasoned David Aebischer, who really is more successful as a backup. This decision ended up killing the Canadiens' nite as the Thrashers seemed to find ways to score five unanswered goals halfway through the game on only 15 shots. I couldn't help but feel bad for the guy as the fourth Thrashers goal by Belanger just sailed into an open net as a result of a complete defensive breakdown of Montreal. But the rest of the Thrashers' tallies were great marks that, most importantly, stood for an entire 60 minutes.

Two things about the Thrashers really impressed me during this game:

a. After going into the third up by a five goal margin, Atlanta kept their cool and didn't try to outplay Montreal and go for the senseless kill. The kind of play demonstrated in the third was a strong, consistent, and, yes, SMART. There were opportunities that the Thrashers could've started something, but they didn't. There was a realization that, "Hey, we're up huge against a team that we've stumbled against a few times in the past... let's not eff this up, boys!" I never felt this lead was in jeopardy, and that's saying something considering the Thrashers are/were a team that is/was known for blowing any kind of lead going into the third halfway during this season. Three-goal leads weren't any safer than a one-goal margin a month or so ago. Now, there's something about the players in Blueland Blue that eminates the feeling of, well, SECURITY. For once, can I get an AMEN?!
b. At the end of the second period, during a stoppage of play, Kovy was pissed at some comment from (I presume) Bouillon, and that started some skirmishing in the Canadiens' defensive zone. A few pushes and shoves later, it was evident that something else was brewing here and Keith Tkachuk came to Kovy's side and manhandled Bouillon to the ground. I mean, for a player that was acquired less than two weeks ago to come to the aid of a new teammate, I saw it as huge. It's been said over and over again that Tkachuk believes in the Thrashers chances for the playoff push in April. This kind of camaraderie (sp?) was so encouraging and made me feel like that kind of, uh, "brotherhood" would fit in nicely when the free agency window opens July 1. Could Tkachuk make for a great captain of the next, uh, successful wave in Blueland? I'm just sayin' here, kids.

As a whole, I was very impressed with the play tonite. It was a different team on the ice today than what was represented on Tuesday. This team had an objective from the get-go and played until the game's outcome was already decided. This team had no plans of letting go of the stranglehold lead they established at the midway point and never turned back. A little teamwork and "I've got your back" mentality went a long way and some players really proved their value to the rest of the squad as well as the fans in attendance. The next game is Saturday nite in Florida against familiar foes, the Panthers yet again. Here's to hoping that we really show ourselves then, just as we did Blueland proud this evening.

Two on the Road: A Thrashers Road Trip (clicky)

Now is the time, apparently. I've done enough of visiting myspace and blogging snippets about it, throwing it out there in AIM conversations, and even commenting on other blogs about it - I might as well come to realizing that I think I want to get this out there and discuss, discuss, and discuss!

So my ladyfriend and I travelled about seven hours' north to Raleigh, NC to get away for a few days, courtesy of the Thrashers and their divisional game in Carolina. The drive was a bit of a stretch, but it was familiar for me. Originally from New York, my family would drive down to Atlanta to scope out the area before we moved. Needless to say, I'm familiar with the I-85 stretch from outside of Richmond, VA to Atlanta. Thankfully we didn't go as far north as Richmond (and we would've died of road boredom in Virginia, that's for sure - no sensory stimuli what-so-ever!), but the seven hours to Raleigh was just enough for one day.

Arriving in Raleigh on Monday, we passed right by the RBC Center and reality kicked in. Earlier this season, I made my way home and sat in on an Isles game at the Coliseum in scenic Uniondale, NY (ha!) and enjoyed a wonderful Thrashers win at the Islanders' expense. This time was a bit different. The Islanders are not division foes. The Islanders weren't too much of a threat to the Thrashers' playoff positioning (eh, kinda-sorta). Moreso, the Islanders aren't hated by a lot of Atlanta fans (note the first statement). This time, the game was real.

We were about to enter Hurricanes territory.

The 2005-'06 Stanley Cup Champions' house.

In the midst of a tight playoff race and a crucial matchup for divisional positioning.

This game was going to be huge. And upon passing RBC, we realized this, and I actually let a bit of fear creep in. You see, at this point in the season, the Thrashers were coming off an absolutely dismal road trip of the West. Of the eight games before this matchup against the 'Canes, the Thrashers only picked up one win and somehow managed a point against the Sabres at home. Going 1-6-1 in that stretch nearly killed the team's momentum and placement within the division and even the conference. We let not only Tampa back into the race, but Carolina was creeping in as well. So maybe you can get a sense of how hesitant we were about going to this game... at this point in the season... right now.

We did a bit of exploring around Raleigh that evening and found a cool bar called The Borough and enjoyed a decent dinner in a neat atmosphere. Tuesday brought more anxiousness as we tried to figure out more about Raleigh, but we couldn't concentrate because it was gameday. While I didn't have much of an appetite during the trip (probably due to sickness), I can safely say that the stress of the game contributed to that. That's how insane this was.

And I think that there's a possibility that I'm being a bit of a drama queen. But whatever! This game was serious!



Of course, I'm familiar with the RBC Center. I've seen it enough times on TV and I formed a big assumption about the place from all of the times I've seen the Thrashers play there - it's a dump. It looked terrible on the small screen. It never looked like it was filled with fans and it just seemed not that friendly to hockey. When thinking of RBC, though, I never seem to remember the Finals from last season - that's probably because I didn't watch much of them, in all honesty (not by choice, mind you). Even though I was excited about going to an away game (and an important one at that!), I wasn't excited about RBC because it just didn't feel like a hockey arena. This attitude was only prepetuated when I looked at it on Google Maps and saw that it was in the middle of nowhere and next to a major college football stadium. I had zero optimism about RBC.

After the game, I walked away a fan of the venue. Driving there was a snap and we had premium parking. Walking into the arena, it was apparent that it wasn't old at all. It was neither old nor dumpy, which already impressed me. As spoiled fans at Philips (and knowing *our* routine at home games), we wanted to be up close for the Thrashers during their pre-game skate and really rile them up with some Atlanta representation. With Philips, the only restricted area is the club seats, and no one's concerned about those during the pre-game only because the players don't come out from that end of the rink. At RBC, we struggled to find the correct place to position ourselves for the Thrashers' entrance to the ice. But once we did, the skate was a blast and it seemed that we were even closer to the players here than we would be at Philips.

I mean, here's Kari giving a broken stick to a fan, right in front of us:



Pretty close, eh?

Walking around the arena, I was hard-pressed to come up with any kind of negative comment on the place. It was nice, it was clean, and the concessions seemed cheaper than what we're used to in Atlanta. When we found our seats in the 300s, we were amazed that the press boxes were only a few rows above us, but our seats had an excellent view of the rink.



Despite the clear differences in allegiances, we got along with some season ticket holders around us. It was relieving to know that there are other passionate fans around the league who aren't assholes (*cough* Buffalo! *cough*). The 'Canes fans were polite as can be and even saluted and congratulated us after the Thrashers' 3-1 win. Personally, I wouldn't go that far with fans of the opposition (and didn't receive any of that in New York), but it was definitely a nice gesture to remember for future run-ins with the enemy.

The game, well, we've all heard about the game by now. Atlanta started down, but Johan Hedberg kept 'em in it for sure with some reliable-as-hell goaltending and Marian Hossa's remarkable goal charged the team up. I mean, that goal he scored was just unrealistic. It was a shorthanded tally from the red line, in line with the goal. He put the puck on net and Cam Ward apparently had no idea about it or what to do with it. As a result, it took an odd bounce off the skates and somehow found the back of the net. Basically, the goal should've never happened and Carolina probably would've run away with the game, because the game was all Carolina up until that point. Even throughout the duration of the game, Carolina had us beat. We just took some chances and jumped over mistakes and made them worth something.

Losing wouldn't have been nice and would've made for a long wait in the parking lot and a longer ride back to the hotel. Fortunately, the win charged me and the ladyfriend up and we could've waited all nite in the parking lot of the RBC, listening to the post-game show on the local sports radio station. I actually felt bad for Cam Ward after the game because it seemed like he took the Hossa goal (and the loss in general) pretty hard on himself. In all actuality, though, it was his fault. You just hate to hear a great competitor like Ward have nites like that. While the pity did happen, it was shortlived when I heard the 'Canes callers chime in about how Eric Staal has been underperforming this season and how he blew the Hossa coverage that partially led to the first Thrashers goal.

The game itself was just a relief and made me feel pretty damned good and confident in my team. The experience of going to a game outside of your comfort zone is special, too. We'll definitely make a habit to visit other divisional rivals in future seasons, maybe even take a trip to another city and stalk the Thrashers a bit there, as well. It's something that every believer of Blueland should take part in, without a doubt. I had a blast at the game. Win or lose (fortunately, I've yet to experience the latter), it's just neat to be an enemy while wearing your Blueland jersey.

PROOF:



And last, but certainly not least, me and the ladyfriend soaked in red (ugh!):



All pics are linked to the Raleigh 2006 album on my flickr site. For some more game-day pics, check it out. They might give you more of a clearer picture as to how the experience was.

vs. Panthers - 2007/03/06

Even though the newly-revamped Blueland Blog used the above pic to capture the essence of last nite's game, I really have to follow suit.

First off, yeah, welcome back, Thrashers. I mean, really. Last nite's game wasn't a great game by any means. Truth be told, I did feel uneasy after the first period - but that was probably due to the fact that I weakly attempted to slam down a huge Amber Bock from the food court prior to the game. But the early play of the Thrash (against the underestimated - true - but still weak Panthers) did cause concern, especially after their recent winning ways.

Oh, and how one streak picks up where the other left off!

As I was starting to mention, last nite's game wasn't a perfect Thrashers victory. In fact, it wasn't that pretty, or that great. What matters the most, however, is the reality that the Thrashers are back in first place. They are playing some consistent hockey right now and that's what's going to win games. You don't have to always outplay your opponents for 60 minutes. Then again, that's been some of the team's struggles - showing up early and not finishing. I think a safe ratio is to play for about 55 minutes, and maybe cruise a little for five. Note that cruising is not synonamous with "falling apart completely."

Things really looked great in the second, when Kovy made a great open-ice pass up to a streaking Tkachuk and made the play count. The trades Waddell & Co. conjured up are proving valuable RIGHT NOW, and that's the point. Even though I loved the guy, can you really imagine Metropolit and Kovy getting together for a goal like that? Despite Tkachuk's tendencies to crash the net and really cause a goalie havoc in front, the guy can still move and score like a champ.

Hossa's goal in the third really brought the team back after a really poor Panthers goal that was just sloppy on our end. What was even worse was the blown coverage from Sutton that resulted in the wide-open Kolnik to wine-and-dine at the Thrashers' expense.

It was the picture that decided it all. With a great combination of Mellanby and newcomer Alexei Zhitnik, Kovalchuk made the strategizing count and put a dagger in the Cats' evening. I will never tire of Kovy's goal celebrations, and last nite's was perfection. I even fantasize about getting on one knee and pumping my fist as hard as possible after I get a strike whenever I bowl, but I always seem to get the timing off (i.e. plan out the celebration, only to be left with another open frame).

Bowling aside, the game last nite was a great display of a team that is ready to take charge of not only their own game, but their own destiny. We all know what's on the line - a playoff spot. Last year, I would've said that the team assembled in October was playoff-bound, but definitely not a first place team. When they didn't make the playoffs, it was a disaster. This season, I really felt that this team could win the division. After the recent acquisitions, I'm certain that this can happen. But for me, getting into the playoffs is not the goal here - it's to win, and really make a statement at doing such. Winning the Southeast Division does this. And even though we know that the team isn't exactly the strongest at home (especially in front of capacity crowds), home-ice advantage is tremendous. I've also read in the past (cannot provide sources at the time, but please refresh my memory here!) that Philips is one of the loudest arenas when it's rocking. I truly feel that this team can make a sizable run in the post-season and do the organization, the fans, and the city proud.

So while I go aside and say that, for me, first place or bust is the goal, essentially the playoffs are what is at stake. Yeah, we can sneak in as an eight-seed. If we make it to the finals as an eight seed, I really won't be complaining, only pointing my fingers at any nay-sayers, telling them, "I told you so!" Deep down, I want the team to make it into June at any cost, but a first place position would really make me happy and show the rest of the league that we're not to be laughed at anymore. Besides, with all of the hills we've been up and down this season, it would be AMAZING to come out on TOP and prove to the world that's where we belong, now and in future seasons.

Last nite's game really showed me that solid hockey always wins. It doesn't need to be Champions on Ice stuff, it just needs to BE. Even the special teams weren't that fantastic against the Panthers. In other games, it will need to step up. But we're in a transition period where new elements are incorporated into the grand scheme of things. Time will make the transition hopefully easier and I know we're only seeing glimpses of what this team can represent. I just can't wait for April to come around and see where we are among the top eight in the Eastern Conference.

It's good to be at the top again. Let's just keep it that way. See y'all on Thursday!

Calm b4 the storm?

So, after weeks of being absent from a few things (mainly updates, but whatevs), it's time to announce that's all because of any and all kind of energy in favor of a new job. I definitely would've loved to do the typical updates (I still haven't said a word about our Raleigh trip), but I couldn't because of everything else going on. Unfortunately, the only downside of this job is losing my weekends and Monday and Friday nights. Everything else is open for discussion, though, and that's definitely exciting. I think I should rename the blog in favor of updates based on this alone. Eh, whatever. But yeah, congrats to me for pulling it off. Updates will be far and few between during the weekends, but hopefully I can compensate by making up for it during my time off.

Up on the agenda for the next few weeks:

03/06 - Tuesday - Panthers vs. Thrash
03/08 - Thursday - Habs vs. Thrash
03/09 - Friday - The Thermals @ Drunken Unicorn
03/13 - Tuesday - Explosions in the Sky @ Lenny's
03/14 - Wednesday - Band of Horses @ EARL
03/19 - Monday - Lily Allen @ The Loft
04/03 - Tuesday - Sean Lennon @ Smith's Olde Bar

And then, the biggie:

05/01 - Tuesday - The Arcade Fire @ Atlanta Civic Center

Raleigh pics are on the Flickr account. I swear that more is coming on this trip! Hopefully I won't forget any of it!

I want to hit up as much as I can on the weekends before I disappear for a while from weekend activity. So if anyone has any ideas/suggestions as to happenings for the next couple of weekends, point me in the right direction!

Lucky Sevens?

So yeah, it's been a while. The ladyfriend and I went to Raleigh to enjoy an away game that was a great one (more on the experiences with this later). We enjoyed the Tampa game from the comfort of our homes, and got disgusted at the gnat that is Martin St. Louis. And we enjoyed sneezing, coughing, and whining during the heartless and mistake-filled loss to Carolina last night.

And then there are these two trades that Don Waddell put together in the past couple of days.

I guess now's not the time of year to start slacking on updates or anything, really.

Just addressing these trades, it's pretty shocking that there was a straight-up trade with Philly, Coburn for Zhitnik. Coburn provided promise for the next few years. Immediately, he didn't come into the team's framework for success. And I'm guessing that's understandable. I mean, after Waddell's ridiculous "guarantee" that the Thrashers were making the playoffs last season, he really needed to pull through this season. But looking at both of these trades (Zhitnik, and Glen Metropolit and everything under the kitchen sink for Keith Tkachuk), it just seems to me that we overpayed a ton for players for the present.

Like I said, Coburn provided promise for the future, and we gave that up for an aging Zhitnik. And then we give up Metropolit (who was an early fave of mine, just because of that name that I always mispronounced, and I preferred it that way) and a bunch of draft picks for a NAME. Sure, Tkachuk can provide that spark and has some great seasons under his belt. But now? I don't know, it just doesn't seem that much like a great deal. Especially with all that we gave up.

Look around the league and you'll see somehow other teams are figuring out the trade market. Carolina gets Anson Carter (who also could provide a great spark, but has yet to find any kind of chemistry this season with Columbus) for a fifth-round pick in '08. Anaheim shops out young d-man Shane O'Brien to Tampa for some goalie and a first-round pick in '07. Despite Carter having a career season with the Sedins in Vancouver last season and having nothing going on in Columbus, I still think that he's nothing to really laugh about. On a team like Carolina, he can cause some serious damage for the opposition (especially division-rivals Atlanta). So to get a legitimate threat for sooooo little is pretty outstanding. And once again Anaheim works their magic by planning for something big later on and getting a first-round pick in next year's draft for #4 or #5 defenseman to the Lightning. Don Waddell should see something here, things that were put on the table already and figure out how the market works. I'm sure that Waddell made an offer to John Davidson and either JD jumped at the chance or really twisted DW's arm (and leg, and neck...) to get this deal done for Tkachuk.

It's common knowledge that this is a big season for everyone - fans, players, GMs, and coaches. With these moves, Waddell gambles tons for instant success. Will all of this work pay off in the end and the Thrashers will not only make it into the playoffs but be a legitimate threat once there? We'll see. But with these moves, it's apparent that playoffs-or-bust is not what's being looked at here. Everyone knows that what the team brings to the table is playoff-worthy, but how far could the current team go? Would a quick first-round exit really mark a successful season for this franchise? Personally, I don't feel like that's really much of an accomplishment - to squeak into the post-season and then find ourselves with an early exit.

Stack the team now, try to really make a statement for the rest of the season and hope it lingers into the next season and then maybe more success will come. I'm assuming that's the mentality behind these trades. Regardless, I'm hoping that these moves put a cattle prod up the team's collective ass and get something started. After last night's effort against Carolina (and the defensive lapses that resulted in a few goals), it's clear that something needed to be done. Here's to hoping that this works out and that we once again sit at the top of the Southeast Division at the end of the season.

Sell Outs!

It appears as if three-day passes for this year's Coachella Festival have sold out. This is pretty insane news. I mean, the lineup was released about three weeks ago, and now passes for the entire weekend are snatched up. Usually, these passes don't go sold until probably March, even into April. The secret's out, though, as more and more people are getting wind as to how amazing this event is. Individual passes for Friday, the 27th, are still up for grabs, however.

One has to think that more tickets will be released as time passes. I just don't see how there's that much demand for this three-day thing that it's completely sold out after the lineup is announced for three weeks. In '04, tickets weren't sold out for the mind-blowing lineup that featured Radiohead, Pixies, Broken Social Scene, The Cure, Air, etc. until, I think, a couple of weeks before the festival (if it even was that much before at all). With Friday's tickets the only ones available, maybe Goldenvoice has taken note of previous complaints about how congested and packed with people the grounds were for the past few years. Who knows, but I don't think they're done.



Photo courtesy of gleggers.

The Coachella Music & Arts Festival 2007, featuring headliners Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Rage Against the Machine, with The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Arcade Fire, Air, The Good, the Bad, and the Queen, and Peaches (among countless others), takes place April 27-29 at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, CA. Ticket info (Friday only remains!) can be found here: http://www.coachella.com/tickets

at Avs & at Canucks - 2006/02/08 & 02/10

Ah, the fabled west coast road trip. This time of the year for the Thrashers usually brings much displeasure and a slipping in the standings. While that's mentioned, that could easily happen. With the resurgency of division rivals (eh, and Stanley Cup Champions) Carolina, and the way that Tampa has brought things to the table (finally), the Thrashers' division lead that was once a fair amount away from the competition is now is jeopardy. As I just mentioned, this "circus swing" usually casts a crappy spell on the Birds and this critical part of the season happens to arrive at just the right time for a fight for supremacy in the Southeast. (Note: When this road trip happens, it's a the same time the circus comes to Philips, hence, "circus swing".)

At least things were silenced for an evening against the once-almighty Colorado Avalanche. A team that was extremely rich with talent and winning in the forms of Sakic, Hejduk, Roy, Blake, Forsberg, and Tanguay (among others) is now reduced to a pile of rubble and anything left over from that era. Joe Sakic is a legend and a dynamic force to reckon with, so that piece of the puzzle is still there. But all other aspects of those amazing teams that ruled the NHL for a few years are in shambles. After trading away David Aebischer for Jose Theodore, the Avs are still trying to figure out their goaltending situation. And, while promising, their young kids do hint at brighter days ahead, with Stasny, Wolski, and Svatos. But this team isn't even a shadow of what they once were.

All of the things mentioned above were the ultimate downfall of the Avs at the hands (wings?) of the Thrash. Shaky goaltending from Theodore (and nice playmaking from Le Thrash, too!) resulted in a quick 3-0 lead... and it's unfortunate that leads like that after the first period cause a Thrashers fan to wonder, "How long is THIS lead gonna last?" There's no denying it, everyone had to be thinking it. After blowing leads against mediocre teams in the past, a three-goal lead against the disappointing Avs was nice, there was the possibility of it reversing. However, the Thrash didn't quit and continued to play a pretty good game in Denver.



I guess the same could apply to the Canucks, too. They never had great success in the playoffs, but during the season, they were a very strong team a few years ago (I'm thinking of immediately prior to the lockout). It's like they could tear through the opposition with the likes of Bertuzzi, Naslund, Morrison, and with strong defense from Ohlund and Jovanovski, and reliable goaltending with Cloutier. With past disappointments in the playoffs and the new CBA in place, the team changed its appearance. While retaining the extraordinary Sedin twins (they are unstoppable) and still hanging onto Naslund and Morrison, Vancouver shipped out the problem-child in Bertuzzi and the unfolding Cloutier and the stalwart defensemen in Jovo. They also decided that Anson Carter, who had a career year with the Sedins (who also had great seasons themselves), wasn't worth the money and let him loose to come back to earth over in Columbus. Instead, the Canucks aimed to correct the problem that plagued them the most during the post-season - goalies - and welcomed ex-Florida netminder Roberto Luongo into the fold. He was viewed as the man who could turn things around for a squad that really relied on its goaltending and it was never there when the team needed that presense the most.

Saturday night, Luongo was the difference-maker. It was games like that that Luongo was brought into Vancouver. While he wasn't consistently tested throughout the game, the last few minutes could've led to a Thrashers come-from-behind victory as opposed to what was a Canucks win. He kept the team in it and ultimately won the game for Vancouver. I'm sure it was a little nice to win over a team that had your number a bunch in the past, as a former member of the Southeast Division.

It was a complete relief to see us convert on a 5-on-3 opportunity. For a while, I thought it wasn't going to happen. In instances like that, you have to keep the puck moving to throw off the three players that are somehow going to stop the play or at least try to have a say in it. Several times during that minute of the two-man advantage, there was too much hesitation with the puck and it looks like nothing was even going to get started. There was even a bit of a struggle to even set up the plays in the Canucks' zone. But for Kovy to get the second Thrashers goal, that was redeeming. There was good puck movement and it resulted in revving up the team.

The game didn't move as fast as other games (like against Buffalo or Carolina), but the spirit was there. The last minutes of the game made up for it as the Thrash tried any kind of opportunity to beat Luongo for a point in the matter. Now, that didn't happen, but it was a nice effort from the team. The Thrashers know what's on the line - a top-three seed in the playoffs - and they know the consequences if they don't play .500 hockey on this road trip. So this team needs to perform the entire way through these games. Faltering and losing sight of the game in a mere 10 seconds can cause the team the game (it did). This is hockey we're talking about here. But these next games against the Oil and the Flames are no walks in the park.

The Oil game could be like the win against the Avs. I'm certain that Hedberg will have the start in the nets tonight to rest an over-worked Kari Lehtonen (finally!). So Moose needs to have a big game to go against the bigger names in the Edmonton lineup like Smyth, Lupul, Hemsky, and, of course, Dwayne Roloson.

And I have little doubt in my mind that it'll be another Finnish matchup on Tuesday, with Kari battling it out against Miikka Kiprusoff in Calgary. They are a team that is trying to make a push for a number one seed in the extremely tight Northwest Division. While a team like Edmonton is on the outside looking in at this point, Calgary is in the midst of a three-way tie for first in the Northwest, along with Vancouver and a Minnesota team on the rise with the return of Gaborik. With the recent acquisition a heralded defenseman in Brad Stuart from Boston, the team looks ready to make a charge away from the others in their division. I mean, Dion Phaneuf cannot do it alone for the Flames. I'm sure that Calgary has some depth in their defense, but Stuart sures it up some more and also tells others in the Northwest that Calgary is serious. It'll be interesting to watch the rest of their season unfold and see where they end up at the end.

THIS JUST IN: Vish Out of ATL, Belanger In! (clicky)

AJC writer Craig Custance reports on the Thrashers AJC blog that hard-hitting pre-season defensive addition Vitaly Vishnevski is officially out of the Atlanta Thrashers future, having moved to Nashville in exchange for what appears to be a 3rd line center in the form of Eric Belanger.

This is the second change of scenery for Belanger in the past two days, after facing a trade from Carolina to the Preds on the 9th.

The Atlanta Thrashers website is now reporting it as well as NHL.com.

Is this the move Thrashers fans have waited for? I highly doubt it. There have been a few concerns raised about the lack of certain positions on the team - a prominent center, a PP leader, a solid D-man, etc. This move does little to address any of those areas of question, but while I do not see another move of Belanger in the future (three teams in two says, how much else can this guy take?!), I assume that there will be some shuffling around of other figures.

It's a shame that Vish was the odd man out here. His arrival to Atlanta was more-or-less positively-viewed. A hard-hitting defenseman to join the ranks of Exelby was looked at (by me, at least) with optimism for defensive strengthening. And for him to reconnect with a former teammate in Havelid (they were both blueliners in Anaheim), I thought it wasn't a bad move. I guess things didn't pan out and much wasn't put on his shoulders because he flat-out didn't bring it each night. His recent scratches from the lineup must've been an indication of what was to come.

It looks like Nashville gets a little defensive depth there with Vish in the lineup. Considering that their two big D-men are Timonen and Zidlicky, Vish gives the Preds some more bang for the buck. It wasn't like Nashville was lacking defensively, I just think that things weren't exactly looking optimal with Timonen being number one in their system and Zidlicky having a bit of an off season and a bunch of youth in the depths with Weber, Suter, and Hamhuis.

Regardless, next Tuesday's (the 20th) matchup in Carolina will be an interesting, uh, homecoming (?) for Belanger.

Remain tuned in because I'm sure that you won't hear the end of Atlanta and Don Waddell's shopping around.

Get the Strattera, 'cause I'm goin' ADD on yer...

Here are some quickies in my world - enjoy!

With the recent announcements of tour dates von Deutschland, the Smashing Pumpkins (i.e. my most favorite band on the planet, i.e. the Billy show, starring Billy, with support from Billy... oh yeah, and that drummer guy) have not only set a release date for their comeback album, but a date as well. From their official website:



I'll put a decent chunk of money on the fact that the Pumpkins won't play their first show overseas. Just you wait and see...

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Lost made its return after, well, too long of a layoff. Sawyer didn't die, Jack completed the operation on Ben, and Karl was getting his rave on in the techno room of the Dharma Initiative. It was neat getting some back story on some of the Others (last night, Juliette was featured) and it was good to see another side of her that we were unaware of. As with every episode, questions linger into next week's episode - what's going to happen to Jack now that he's the only Oceanic passenger on the smaller island? Will Ben really let Juliette leave the island? How is Ethan tied into what seems like EVERYTHING? And, most importantly, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE THE OTHER CAST MEMBERS ON THE ISLAND?!

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My girlfriend and I are taking a trip in two weeks to Raleigh, NC to attend the Thrashers/Hurricanes game on Tuesday, the 20th. I think it's safe to say that I had an absolute blast going to the Thrashers/Islanders game back in November, so the next logical step for me/us is to attend a game in a division rival's arena. Plus, it's a great excuse to get out of Georgia for a few days. There will definitely be more updates on this plan as it gets closer to departure time.

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Apparently I'm supposed to be some bowling superstar now. I joined my first bowling league in YEARS back in September and it was good experience. While that was going on, I acquired a ton of bowling accessories/necessities - shoes, grape-scented ball, bag, etc. All I need now is the token bowling shirt and I'm set.

Well, after all of this accessorizing and practicing, another league season has begun and I think that things are finally beginning to click. After having some pretty good games in the 150s and 160s, I'm starting to feel a little consistent about maintaining higher scores. Certainly this one will help - a game that started off with six consecutive strikes and ended with a score of 220. I'm thinking that's my highest score ever. If not, I've always had my mind of 221 as my highest, but I think that's a phantom memory. To make a Locke reference, I really did use the "mind's eye" during that game. Crazy!

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I just realized that I have a few pics from the miserable Thrashers effort against the Flyers from Saturday night. I'll get on those and see what's post-worthy and what should be trashed immediately. Check the flickr site for additions.

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Speaking of additions, our family acquired a new puppy, named Josie. She looks part chow, but not nearly as bushy/poofy as a true chow. But she's a true pound puppy and completely adorable. More pics to come.

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Some neat shows are happening in Atlanta next month. Time to prepare, because most are all within a two-week period:

9 March - Friday - The Thermals/Big Sleep @ Drunken Unicorn
13 March - Tuesday - Explosions in the Sky/the Paper Chase @ Lenny's
14 March - Wednesday - Band of Horses @ the EARL
19 March - Monday - Asobi Seksu @ Drunken Unicorn
23 March - Friday - Cold War Kids/Tokyo Police Club @ Vinyl
31 March - Saturday - Ted Leo & Pharmacists @ Variety

vs. Slugs - 2007/02/06

What really drove me crazy about this game was, a. seeing too much of the above, only sub out Kotalik for Briere, and, b. yeah, the crowd.

I do initially regret the timing of this post because this is happening two days after the game and my memory of how things played out is kinda fuzzy. About the game, since I've apparently started a trend here, two things really stick out: a. how much Daniel Briere is a tool (in a purely competitive way), and, b. how the third Sabres goal was just karma acting against us... for some reason unknown to me or the team at this point.

The stuff about Briere that gets me the most is the ridiculous, over-the-top fist-pumps after the goals he scored. I know, I know - it's all out of passion and I won't deny that. And, believe me, I love it when I see Kovalchuk go nutty after scoring a crucial goal. As a matter of fact, I've envisioned myself doing one of those knee-to-the-ground, fist-in-the-air kinda poses... well, that would happen after I get a powerful strike in bowling, but that never seems to happen when I plan out the celebration. Regardless, I love seeing passion in the game and Briere had it. If he were on the Thrashers, he'd be a savior. As a member of the Sabres, he's a tool. That's just how it is.

And about that third Buffalo goal - total crap. Granted, I saw the "penalty" against deVries from the other side of the rink, but it definitely did not look like a clear hook on Max (if that's who it was, which I'm pretty sure it was him)... or much of a hook at all. You know, I would've settled for an old-fashioned penalty kill and it was looking just like that... until the blunder by Sutton that basically cost us the game. Without much around him and a puck that was not obstructed in the slightest, he attempted to push the puck out of the zone or just away from the opposition. Instead? He completely whiffs at it, it magically goes into Buffalo's possession, and Briere takes care of the rest. And cue the previous paragraph.

That goal made me so mad at just about everything in the world. It's probably a good thing for you readers (if any!) that this post is delayed only because it would've been a rant fest that would've featured a pissed-off blogger. Yeah, we all want that.

Uh, what?

A few words with regard to the crowd from that night, too... seriously, where did all of those fans come from? During that first period, I forgot where I was because there was soooo much Buffalo support there and they definitely made their presence known. An assortment of jerseys (confused team, I say), signs, and rampant Buffalo-themed chants were all over the place and stayed that way until the third when the Thrashers fans could finally have the energy (and getting over the shock) to at least even out the so-called "home ice advantage". Early on, it was very scary, as I've never encountered an arena that was filled with so many fans from the opposition before. As we got through the game, though, I really felt like were were at, like, game five of the playoffs... with all of the back-and-forth fans had with each other, as well as the scoring and playmaking. It was ridiculous. I heard talk that some of those fans were actually bussed in - from where?

I mean, if all of those bandwagoneers were from the Atlanta area (probably transplants, but whatevs), seriously why go into an arena where you live and openly be jerky and ass about being a fan of the visiting team? Sure, I'm a New York Mets fan. But when they come to Turner, I don't become overtly pricky about where my allegiances lie. I don't have a need to seek safety in numbers - I do all of the celebrating to myself, or it spills over to my family members. More often than not, the Braves own the Mets, so I really don't have much celebrating to do in the first place! But with saying that, I just don't see how all of those Buffalo fans at the game were from out of town, were into Buffalo for yearrrrrs, and safely went to their North Atlanta home after the game, had a nice night of victory sleep (the best kind!), and further continued their lives IN GEORGIA the next day. This mentality spilled out everywhere after the game and it really blew my mind. From almost seeing a fist-fight in the food court to reciprocating chants while killing time waiting for a MARTA train (that took FOREVERRRR, BTW), I've never witnessed more punkish behavior from a specific group of fans before. While it was nice to see the crowd feeling the game and really getting into it, let it die soon afterwards. When the Thrash tore it up on Long Island back in November, yeah, I won't lie, I let out a few "Let's Go Thrashers" chants in the parking lot that weren't too over-the-top (subjective there). But I let my jersey do the talking the rest of the night. There's no need for opposing fans to have continual knives in their back as they leave their HOME arena. Ridiculous.

Let's just hope it isn't as vicious on March 18 when the Slugs return to the Phil for what is sure to be an important meeting for these two teams.

OMG WTF LOLZ LMAO - Yeah, they're all applicable

This past Christmas, I got the ultimate gift of Sirius satellite radio for my car. I've wanted satellite radio for as long as I can remember it being around, which has definitely been a few years. I immediately set it up the next day and I couldn't believe I had this feature in my car now. What was unfortunate, though, was that my FM reception was very poor. I could pick up Sirius stations as long as my hand was on the player (which is an S50, BTW). Once I took my right hand off of the unit, I would lose all reception and glaring static would take over, causing much aggravation with the situation.

There HAD to be a better way to work this thing.

What was most shocking, though, was that my iPod works the same way as the S50 does - wirelessly. I have a Monster iCarPlay adapter in my car and it works flawlessly 95% of the time, and the other 5% it's tolerable (much better than the iTrip that I've seen and heard about). So for my wireless Sirius device to not work so well, but my Monster cable to be quite the opposite was really weird. At that point, I started looking into various adapters to make my terrestrial radio work better with the satellite radio.

I came across two different products, both suggested by Sirius. The one I went with was the FM Direct Adapter (Model #FMDA25), made by Sirius. After looking around at both websites and local retailers, I couldn't find this product for less than $30. If I did find it, I still knew NOTHING about installing this kind of thing, so that meant more money forked over because of installation fees and other crap. I was told installation could take an hour to all day long. I was also told that installation could be as much as $40, making the entire thing about $70. Considering I got this for Christmas, it was hard to justify spending that much "maintenance" money on something that I got for free. But whatever. I still got it for free. Ehh... loopholes!



Regardless, I finally stumbled onto crutchfield.com, a company that I've heard about before. I've seen their catalogues and I've heard their commercials on radio and maybe even on television. They're all about helping people with their electronic needs, for both car and home. So I tried them out and, what-do-you-know, the adapter was only $20. After all other charges (which was just shipping), my total still ran less than $30. I already had one-up on the local outlets that sold the same product. The only bad-side of using Crutchfield is that the product was on backorder. I ordered it on the 14th and received it about a week ago. I was actually told it would be in by the 12th of February, so the early arrival was nice.

Remember how I mentioned that I had zero knowledge of anything having to do with car maintenance or electronics? I still don't, but this is another amazing thing about Crutchfield. When you order something like this for your car, you fill out a few forms about what kind of car your drive (or the car that you're working on) so that they can include MasterSheet Instructions. Basically, these are diagrams with step-by-step directions on how to disassemble your car for this particular part. The best part about this feature of their website is that it is ENTIRELY FREE. So not only did I get the product I wanted for cheaper, I also had instructions for removing my car stereo and doing the job, completely free of charge.

My main concern after this was how long installation would take. Of course, it sounds so easy on paper, but there are always curve-balls thrown into the mix to make things, eh, interesting. Once I started working on my car, installation was a snap and was done in less than 10 minutes.

Even after I typed that, I had to stare at the screen because I still didn't believe myself there.

Cheaper prices for the same product + free installation directions + retarded easy installation = Crutchfield is amazing!

And that's the moral of the story, kids. If you ever want to install anything in your car in terms of electronics, visit Crutchfield and they will hook you up. I still cannot believe how easy all of this was.

The best thing of all - my satellite radio reception is perfect... a 100% improvement over how it was about a half an hour ago, when I first started the installation.

website: crutchfield.com
FM Direct Adapter: FMDA25

UPDATE: New Thrashers Blogs!

I figured I'd do this since it helps out everyone in the end - both blogger and reader.

Thoughts from the Postman
Jason is entirely new to the blogging scene, so be delicate with him as he blossoms to be the blogger that he will be one day soon! He's picking up on the Thrashers' winning ways this season and really taking a knack at learning the way the team works, who the team is, etc. So his developing insight will definitely be an interesting read, for sure! I look forward to watching this space grow in the next few weeks/months.

Thrashers Thrashings
Erby was also in attendence for the Thrashers Blog Night a few weeks ago. He provides a great mix of links to Thrashers-related stories online as well as personal anecdotes from games. You can tell he's pretty passionate about the team when he lists his favorite music as Lil' John screaming "LETS GO THRASH-ERS!" There's no way you can deny that.

Talking Thrash
I just stumbled upon this blog today actually, so I have yet to really go through it and provide any kind of summary on it. Seems like there's a good thing going on over there. The more Thrashers bloggers online, the better! I just love reading other people's perspectives on what I also witness.

vs. Flyers - 2007/02/03

Wow, so that was another miserable effort by a team that looks like it's losing some of it's mojo, and for sure some of its lead in the standings. After trying to deal with terrible traffic and an even worse parking situation, I missed the entire first period. The first goal sounded like it was primiarily Kari's fault and we ended up catching the Kovalchuk tally and then somehow made our way through maze-esque parking lots and meandering through thousands of cars and other misled cattle, err, people.

I mean, we were able to score some pretty amazing seats for the game, but I just wish that the Thrashers gave us reason to celebrate. This game was mediocre, mildly stated. The power play is in shambles, any kind of special teams that we have really appears non-existant, and our defense seems to be more effective at planting roots into the ice at Philips than actually moving around and trying to work the opposition. What comes to mind with these problems is not the players - I really feel that there is something that isn't being activated by Coach Hartley. I just don't see how we have all of the talent in the world and we cannot do a damned thing on the power play, ESPECIALLY on the 5-on-3 opportunities that should be no-brainers. Luckily for us, we only took three penalties last night, so who knows how well the penalty kill units would've worked if they were actually put to the task. But the issue with the power play is mind-boggling.

It really does appear that the team is disintegrating or becoming disabled. We're not being figured out by the worst teams in the league, we're just not playing to the potential that we know we have. The last thing the Flyers are concerned about is watching hours of tape to try to figure out the first-place Thrashers and how to topple their system. If it was a legitimate playoff race, I could see the sense of urgency for the Flyers squad. Seeing how they are the WORST IN THE LEAGUE in terms of standings/points, the Flyers had nothing to lose, didn't care about what happened, and actually played. I'm sure if they were down a few goals, morale would've dipped and the game would've been our's. But then again, who knows, considering we have little evidence that the Thrashers know the definition of what a "comfortable lead" is!

Yes, I'm very frustrated. I'm neither a coach nor a trained hockey-wiz, but I know that something needs to be done to light a fire up the collective ass of the Atlanta Thrashers hockey team. Last night, I saw very little emotion brought to the ice and lack of spirit brings lack of drive. Why push for anything more if you don't feel it inside? All of the mistakes and mishaps this team has endured this season are purely mental errors. Maybe getting rid of Hartley and bringing in someone more qualified like, say, Dr. Phil would have more of an effect on the Thrashers mindset than what Hartley is currently exuding.

While it is hard to believe that there were any positives to the evening, GM Don Waddell's appearance to the crowd (regardless of how big/small) for the 680 post-game show was a bold move... commendable, even. A lot of fans would love to get their chance with DW and just put him up in front of a firing squad and the chance was there last night. Granted, I also missed a bunch of the post-game show due to the five-mile trek back to the core of the earth for my car, but what I did hear sounded like the situation was neutralized. DW mentioned that something needs to happen to bring either more defensive aspects to the team or a notable center to get this team moving in the direction that it should be. Funny, because I really thought the rotation of Kapanen/Rucchin/Metropolit at center was working for a while... hmm... right.

I did notice this morning that the great Thrashers Talons site analyzed some figures after the Islanders debacle from Thursday night. There are a couple of entries that bring attention to different aspects of the team and, as always, are very interesting and especially enlightening. This is good for someone like me who doesn't have the time to plug in numbers into my so-called "correlational calculator" and make connections from that. Another post looms on the horizon has The Falconer aims to be coach for a minute and make suggestions for the team that would not address any trade/player-movement issues. Sounds good to me! Keep your eyes tuned there as I'm sure that's coming up later on tonight.

Arcade Fire Sets Churches Across the UK Ablaze!

I just can't turn away from anything related to the Arcade Fire. Whether they are taking the collective bathroom break, or making a new record, or singing outside of churches - I will never be able to deny this band.

Speaking of the latter in that series, the Arcade Fire is currently on tour of the UK, playing the randomest of venues across the island nation - churches. While this trend is continuing across the seas in Montreal and New York in the coming weeks, let's hope that another trend of this tour manifests itself. After playing sets that probably last an hour or a little more, the band members take to the church steps for the encore.

Uh, yeah. You know, like the outside of churches... and how they all have steps into them? Those steps are the next stage for the band's performances.

Maybe it's an attempt to get to the fans who weren't as close as they could've been at the actual show (you know, with seats and a proper stage, etc.). Maybe it's an attempt to connect to new fans and be as intimate as possible by literally playing in a crowd. Or maybe they are just passionate about what they do and what they represent to their fans. Who knows, but whatever their motives are, I think it's just the coolest thing around.

I mean, the Arcade Fire aren't the world's most important band (yet), but to reach out and be cavaliers with their fans is pretty unreal. I've always heard stories about bands "returning to their roots" by playing dive bars or doing record signings or something - but THIS, this isn't even a retread of their past. This is something that everyone who was a part of it will remember it for quite a while. It's not every day that you have the opportunity to actually stand next to your favorite band (literally!) while they play for you and the few hundred (if that many!) that surround you.

To get a glimpse of what the Arcade Fire are doing across the UK, check out their encore from their gig at the Porchester Hall in London just last night:



And if you can tolerate Regine's wimpers, take a look at this vid from the 29th of January after the Arcade Fire performed at St. John's Church, also in London:

Oh yeah, here's a quickie...

And I can't believe I let this one slide for as long as I did, but I'm actually on the Thrashers website, all because of blog night! Check out the linkage here.

Of all the bloggers that partcipated and the entries that were made about the evening, a selection from your's truly was the leading quote for the rest of the blogs. Pretty neat, I say!

FIxation Focus: Fields

C'mon, let's face it here, kids - anything posted on here relating to music in the next few months is more-likely-than-not going to be affiliated with the much-loved, desired, envied, cherished Coachella Festival. And, it so happens that this is one of those posts!

After getting a few listens on Left of Center (Sirius 26) of "Song for the Fields" and "Heretic", I gave Fields a shot and obtained a copy of their EP, "7 from the Village". What I found on that EP is that, even though those two tracks definitely stick out, it has a sound that's kind of on its own. I've always been terrible with trying to classify things or grouping anything into specific genres, only because I listen to what I think is good. There's no need to go about the whole, uh, "proto-post-electroclash-punk" thing with labelling anything. I'm tired of it, and I've always been like that with regard to genres.

But with that all aside... geez...



It's just a nicely textured EP with some tracks that really live out the "Fields" name. For once, there's a band name that actually suits the music well. And maybe that was the intention? From their bio on their website:

...the pastoral idea behind Fields was something that was there from the onset. "I like the idea of having the folky pastoral elements, like the name," says [singer, keys, guitar - Nick Peill]. "But on the other hand it can be quite ambiguous, like fields of white noise, or static. That's what I was trying to allude to.

"Song for the Fields" starts out as something rather quiet, then really gets rolling and kinda makes you feel like you've gone back in time to some other period in your life when things just moved at a rapid pace... and then stopped. The rest of the EP isn't that momentous, but it does give a good taste of what's expected of the band in the future.

What's also worth noting about the band is that they are comprised of different backgrounds, as noted on their myspace. While most of the band is from London and/or Birmingham, UK, vocalist Thorunn Antoni is from Iceland and I'm sure that her input plays a role into the sound of the band. You can certainly pick up on the winter vibes that this band exudes.

With that EP as their first release, their debut full-length, Everything Last Winter, is released on April 3 (in the States) through Atlantic Records, I'm assuming.

Fields plays Coachella '07 on Saturday, April 28.

website: http://www.fieldsband.com/
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fieldsband

vs. 'Duhs - 2007/02/01

After responding from some great mishaps (against the Isles - but with a win - and against the Flyers), the Thrashers had the momentum carry over from their great win over Jersey the other night... at least, you would think that would happen. Granted, I did get to the game about 5-10 minutes late, so I definitely cannot attest to how they came out of the gate. With Jon Sim coming up with an early goal though, it seemed as if the Thrash could finally get something started and perhaps finish it. Walking into Philips, I discovered that the score was already tied up even though I just heard the goal on 680 from the parking lot across the street.

Finally getting a seat, I was able to assess the situation and witness the game for what I thought it was worth.

For all the Dunham haters out there, the guy was the second star of the game and pretty much deserved it. Granted, the Isles played some trusty defense and killed off a bunch of penalties. That's not to say that the Thrashers had their chances though.

With five power plays (including an early 5-on-3), the Thrashers' power play unit that includes Hossa, Kovalchuk, and Kozlov - three guys you think would be able to outplay opponents' PK units and score in numbers - once again proved inept at the chances handed to them.

There were several moments during the game that the Thrash should've been up a few goals. There were fantastic opportunities to cash in on. There were attempts by Kapanen with great shooting angles - but this was quickly minimalized by Niko's lack of puck-handling in some intense situations. There was a penalty shot from Hossa that could've started something in the Thrashers' favor - but the goalpost let off a resounding "NOPE!" And Kovy had shot after shot that could've hit some kind of twine in the back of the net - but it seemed like for every shot fired, Dunham had an answer.

Yes, THAT Dunham.

Did he play outstanding tonight? Not necessarily, as there were moments (but not many, unfortunately) that he would find himself in poor positioning or unsure as to what to do with the puck. For the vast majority of the game, however, Dunham was everything that he was not during his tenure with the Thrashers last season - a reliable asset that the Isles pretty much banked on for the duration of the evening. Did he play solid hockey for close to 60 minutes? I'd say so.

And with his history with this Atlanta team, for the Isles to get that kind of win in our building, with him manning the nets - it's really unforgivable. It makes you very angry as a Thrashers fan. After all of the misery and hardships the team and its followers had to endure last year, the one person we hoped would pull through would be the back-up goalie. Mike Dunham really gave no evidence of that to the team last season. And for him to just casually walk out of Philips knowing that he played his heart out to prove himself in front of probably close to 13000 people (maybe I'm being generous? It was a week night) - it just boggles my mind how this kind of player didn't show up AT ALL last season.

So looking at the game from that viewpoint, I'm pretty much disappointed, frustrated, and pretty pissed. I'm disappointed that our team, with as much fire-power it possesses, cannot get itself started on any kind of roll lately. I'm frustrated because it's really appearing that our team isn't used to being in the position that they are currently in - as one of the top teams in the NHL - and that they can't seem to handle it (or that kind of respect) in game situations. And I'm livid because of Dunham and how this kind of talent and promise didn't present itself during a season when we needed it the most... and now he seems to be thriving in the role as someone who can be relied upon.

We'll see how things turn out against the Flyers on Saturday.