The Goat Pen

That's the Odelay album. I like him and have 3 of his albums.

Saying Beck has "no artistic vision" pretty much makes Kanye a dumbass. Dude plays 12 instruments. Released an album in sheet music form. 'Ye just jellus.

Then again, when they announced Beck as the winner, apparently Kim asked 'Ye, "who's that?" So they're all just dumb as shit.

Who gives a fuck about the grammys? Some number of years ago, they gave best rock album (or whatever category it was) to fucking Jethro Tull or some shit, some group that was already ancient history at the time, over Metallica, who was at the height of their popularity and relevance. Grammys ain't shit...

Yep, anyone winning a Grammy is pretty much in the same boat as Milli Vanilli anyway. Nobody cool wins Grammys.

Not true. Beck for example.

I actually liked the Grammys this year. Not as much as last year but I liked how they combined newer artists with legendary onces. Minus the Lady GA GA puke fest. Opening with AC/DC was great though I would have rather they opened with Back In Black.

Face it Stu, you and I and most of these other poop flinging monkeys now live way outside of the 18-38 demographic that TV advertisers care about. They only throw in the Viagra commercials because they know you are taping it.

I didn't think anyone my age even watched the Grammy's anymore.

You don't have 2 teenage daughters.

Well, Beck is cool in an offbeat way. But he's still a pop star.

I never watched the Grammys and quit listening strictly to top 40 by 8th grade. I've never fit into that demo but it seems like so many kids today are into pop music while so-called alternative, at least as I knew it in college and after, is a shell of its former self. Then again, I'm an old fuck with no connections to the alternative scene now so how would I know anyway?

I guess my bigger point is, today's kids are pussies and I'll stand by that one.

Anyone thinking about going to the Dead shows in Chicago over the 4th?

hedge was until I told him it was sold out and tickets were $300 each.

If I lived in Chicago and could afford it, I would try to go but I don't in either case so I'm not going. I'm skeptical these will be their last shows ever. You'd think they would play those in the Bay Area.

It's not sold out yet. The public on sale is 2/28. Though, they got such a huge response for the mail order that I doubt many tickets will be held for the public. And, the price range per show for the public sale is $55 to $200 so it may not be that expensive if you don't care where you sit.

Those guys will always be playing in some form or another. But, I wouldn't be surprised if this really is it for them all together. 20 years since the last shows as a full band and in the same place where it ended. It makes sense.

Well, it's only been 6 years since they all played together (without Jerry of course) and they've had the surviving 4 together 2, maybe 3 other times. Chicago was the last show for Jerry, Brent and Pigpen.

But the end is definitely in sight. Phil will be 75 on March 15 and Weir seems intent on drinking himself to death. Mickey will probably outlive them all since he's a Vulcan.

I told Stu I would pay for his tickets and airfare if he would just get the tickets for both of us, since he is a mail order geek and knows how to do all that shit. Alas, I don't think his wife will allow it and he is probably scared to be away from home for 3 days, so he said he couldn't do it...

And the offer still stands. You get the tickets for us, any number of nights you choose (I would prefer all 3), I will pay for them and pay for your airfare and hotel...

ok, watching the 2 hour special, I decided I had to do it - I bought tickets to see Stevie Wonder at the Yum! Center on March 27.

Yeah, my wife is wondering whether we should see him at the Barclays when he comes in April. She just saw him at MSG this past Summer with some of her goofy friends and I have caught his show a couple times before, so we're on the fence. I may just make it a gametime decision because if we go I'm not going cheap...and I'm not sure if I should hold out for a different NY concert to dip into the entertainment budget with.

The bonus of seeing most (big time) artists in NY is that so many guests just wind up showing up. We went to see Stevie in 2007 at MSG and Prince came on stage and played a song with Stevie and then Tony Bennett came up, too, for a song and was then followed by Sting. I don't know if Brooklyn will attract the same level of stars.

The Yum! Center has $2 hot dogs

UAB basketball has $1 hotdogs!