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songspeak
Barenaked Ladies Are Me…and my friend
Last Friday, I met a friend at Mohegan Sun to see Barenaked Ladies, for which I had complimentary tickets. The show, in a nutshell, was great.I left work promptly at 5pm and made it to Mohegan Sun in an hour and 40 minutes. Not too shabby. My friend arrived shortly thereafter and we went to the ticket window to get the tickets about a half hour before the start of the show. No offense to the first opener, Angel Taylor, but our first priority was getting dinner rather than catching the opening act. Luckily, we were able to get an immediate seat at Big Bubba’s BBQ and had a nice meal (I opted for the chicken and ribs combo, and she had meatloaf. Because two out of three ain’t bad.).
After dinner, we headed into the arena in the middle of Ben Kweller’s set. He was pretty darn good. I especially enjoyed Sawdust Man. After Ben Kweller, though, it was the moment of truth. Barenaked Ladies were going to take the stage and this was my first time seeing them without Steven Page.
And you know what? I didn’t miss him at all. They opened their set with Who Needs Sleep? (an always odd choice, in my opinion), and then broke into The Old Apartment. It was as it always is with them. They rocked the house. It wasn’t long before Ed Robertson was freestyle-rapping about playing at Mohegan Sun, and then him and the band started talking about how he’d gotten schooled at poker that day. It appears he played a $200 buy-in tournament and learned a couple lessons along the way. Lesson 1: Trip 9’s aren’t worth a damn (“I was outkicked!”), and lesson 2: Queens full of 10’s? Fold ‘em! (“He slowplayed me!”). All was right with the world. I’m not familiar with much of the new stuff, but Angel Taylor did come out to sing with Ed on one of the songs I DO know, Every Subway Car, and it sounded really good. They even played a song called Eraser from their kid’s CD Snack Time, which was great fun. The other band members (mainly Kevin Hearn) took over a lot of Steven Page’s vocals, and his absence was barely felt. In fact, the only time I really thought about him was when they played You Run Away, off their new All in Good Time album, which is clearly about him.
And as always, as I was hoping, they did their famous medley finale. It started with Kevin Hearn playing the piano and singing Magic by Pilot. This led into the band doing a song and dance routine that included Empire State of Mind by Jay Z, I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas (who were coincidentally playing the XL Center in Hartford the very same night), Baby by Justin Bieber, and California Gurls by Katy Perry, topped off by “Mohegan Sun, won’t you come” at the very end to the tune of Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden (which they’ve done at their previous Mohegan Sun shows). The crowd, of course, clamored for an encore, and BNL gladly obliged. They played 3 songs for their encore, and for the first, Ed Robertson played drums while Tyler Stewart stumbled across the stage belting out Alcohol (that song was made for him to perform), and they finished the night with Brian Wilson (the song, not the Beach Boys singer).
We left thoroughly satisfied with the show, and continued to do a little gambling on the penny slots. And even though it only took me an hour and twenty minutes to get home, it was still 2:15am. But who needs sleep, right?
Tags: 10s music, 70s music, 80s music, 90s music, alcohol, all in good time, angel taylor, baby, barenaked ladies, beach boys, ben kweller, big bubba's bbq, black eyed peas, black hole sun, bnl, brian wilson, california gurls, ed robertson, empire state of mind, eraser, every subway car, hartford, i gotta feeling, jay z, jim creegan, justin bieber, katy perry, kevin hearn, life in a nutshell, meat loaf, mohegan sun, pilot, poker, sawdust man, snack time, soundgarden, steven page, the old apartment, two out of three ain't bad, tyler stewart, who needs sleep, xl center, you run away
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songspeak
You got your sixty back…
I got my sixty back!
This happened quite some time ago at a poker night at the VFW, but it merits mention nonetheless. It was final table with a few of us left, the blinds were high, and while I wasn’t involved in either of these hands, I was still playing and watching. Two guys got involved in a pot two hands in a row. In the first one, one of them lost about 60,000 in chips to the other. The next hand, he pretty much ended up winning them back. I told him, “you got your sixty back!” and the other guy said, “you other fuckers don’t know how to act”, clearly referencing SexyBack by Justin Timberlake. We all had a good chuckle over that one.
Tags: 00s music, final table, justin timberlake, poker, poker night, sexyback, vfw
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songspeak
Ukraine proves it has talent with its newest invention: Sandimation!
The other night at poker, our friend told us about a clip he’d seen on youtube of the winner of Ukraine’s Got Talent doing her thing. Her name is Kseniya Simonova, and her thing is telling stories using sand animation. Yeah, you heard me. He tried describing it, but he really didn’t do it justice. It has to be seen to be believed. In the following clip, she tells the story of Germany conquering Ukraine during World War II. Of special interest to the songspeakers out there is the odd use of an instrumental version of Nothing Else Matters by Metallica near the end (or at least something that really sounds like it. Maybe it’s my imagination). It’s really kind of amazing, and my theory on why there are so many people in the audience crying? Some of the sand blew into their eyes.
Who said Ukrainians didn’t have talent?
Tags: 00s tv, crying, germany, kseniya simonova, los colorados, metallica, nothing else matters, poker, sand animation, sandimation, ukraine, ukraine's got talent, ukrainians, world war 2, world war II, youtube
1 comment
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songspeak
MST3K, Joe Estevez, and paper
I used to love Mystery Science Theater 3000 back in the day. It’s been off the air for years, but oddly enough, it’s come up for me twice this week.The first time was on Monday, when I was playing poker at the VFW. For some godforsaken reason, they had Two and a Half Men on the TV (and man that show is awful). I wasn’t paying attention, but apparently Emilio Estevez had a cameo, and there was talk of him and Charlie Sheen being brothers. An epic discussion then broke out at our table about them having different last names and Martin Sheen being there dad. One of the guys didn’t realize they were brothers because they have different last names, and I said that I thought Estevez was their real last name and Sheen was the stage name. I then asked if anyone ever watched MST3K,
and oddly enough, most of the younger guys were fans. I asked if any of them watched it in the later years when it was on the SciFi channel, because in one of the later episodes, they watched a movie called Soultaker 
Joe Estevez, Martin Sheen’s brother. That was one of my favorite MST3K episodes. I think they may have watched another movie with Joe Estevez in it at some point, which isn’t surprising, given his lengthy film resume according to IMDB. I get the impression that most of them are stinkers, if Soultaker is any indication.Anywho, there was also a theatrical MST3K movie in which Mike Nelson and the robots watched This Island Earth. Matt and I rented it once years ago (on VHS, before DVD’s and Netflix), and there was one little part that we still reference to this day. I’m reminded of it, because it was on HBO Family last night and I watched part of it. The hunky scientist lead character receives this thing from outer space, and there’s a book in it.
His little nerdy assistant wearing glasses was looking at it with him, and as the hunky dude is turning the pages, he says, “This isn’t paper, this is some sort of metal” and Tom Servo, imitating the nerdy guy, says, “No, it’s paper” after he touches the pages. It’s a lot funnier if you’re watching it, believe me.Well, that’s my moviespeak story. Matt and I still crack out the “it’s paper” nerdy voice every now and then. Why, I don’t know. Stop badgering me!
Tags: 00s tv, 80s tv, 90s tv, charlie sheen, crow, DVD, emilio estevez, HBO family, IMDB, joe estevex, martin sheen, mike nelson, mst3k, mystery science theater 3000, netflix, poker, SciFi channel, soultaker, this island earth, tom servo, two and a half men, vfw, VHS
4 comments
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songspeak
What time is it?
I was playing poker at a friend’s house Saturday night, and it was getting late. I had to be up early Sunday morning because we had to see what the Easter Bunny had left for Quinn, as well as take her to Six Flags for her big 4th birthday. So, as it was getting later, I asked, “What time is it?” and one of the guys at the table said, “Four thirday” in reference to the old Spin Doctors song. This caught me off guard because he’s actually younger than I am, and it’s not like that was a hugely popular hit by them.
Back in the day, Matt and I used to reference that song all the time in just that way, mainly to annoy our friend Bill, who harbored some sort of deep-seated illogical hatred for the Spin Doctors (even though he’s gone to see them live…figure that one out). This whole situation prompted me to find the video online:
And after rewatching it, good God this song makes no sense. Chris Barron must have been high on the grass or whatever he was ingesting when he wrote this song. Wouldn’t 4:20 have made more sense?
Tags: 4:20, 4:30, 90s music, chris barron, easter bunny, high on grass, poker, six flags, spin doctors, what time is it
2 comments
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songspeak
He’s got the Jack
This songspeak took place a couple weeks ago on one of my poker nights. I’m not going to explain the game of no limit texas hold ‘em here, but for those familiar with the game, the story will make sense.I wasn’t playing this hand, but was just observing along with everyone else at the table. It was a guy and girl in in the pot together (I’ll withhold the names to protect the innocent), and the flop was J 8 8, I believe. They both checked. The turn was an A, the girl made a substantial bet, and the guy called. The river was another J, the guy bet big, and after thinking for a minute, she finally felt like she had to call. After she called, but before they showed their cards, I was singing The Jack by AC/DC at the end of the table, “He’s got the jack…he’s got the jack”. The woman sitting next to me commented that she loves that song. The guy indeed showed a jack for a full house, beating the girl’s 2 pair, aces over 8’s (this isn’t the blog or place to analyze how horrible his move of calling her turn bet was when it was obvious she had an ace or 8 and he was only drawing to 2 outs, but I digress…)
The Jack is one of my favorite Bon Scott-era AC/DC songs. It’s basically a song about an STD, but uses playing cards and poker as a clever metaphor. Lyrically, one of AC/DC’s better efforts. At least, the studio version. The live version now performed by Brian Johnson has alternate lyrics and is more of a straightforward to-the-point description of said disease.
*Disclaimer – The point of this story is that guy had a jack playing card in his hand. I have no idea if he has the disease “the jack” or not.
Tags: 70s music, ac/dc, bon scott, brian johnson, full house, he's got the jack, no limit texas hold 'em, playing cards, poker, poker night, sexually transmitted disease, STD, the clap, the jack, two pair
5 comments
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songspeak
There’s a green one, under there
"I'm all in"
Last night I was playing in my local poker game, and there were two brothers at my table. One of them lost a lot of chips early, and then proceeded to win a couple of decent pots, but still didn’t have a lot of chips. Their friend commented, “Hey, look at all your chips now!”, and I joked that they were all blue (worth only $1000), and he said, “There’s a green one under there!” because the green chips are worth $5000. His brother then sang, “There’s a green one, under there” to the tune of You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
That’s pretty much it.
Tags: 60s christmas specials, 60s tv, how the grinch stole christmas, poker, poker chips, poker night, the grinch, there's a green one under there, you're a mean one mr. grinch
1 comment
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don't insult our intelligence
You bet your sweet Aspercreme!
This past Thursday, Jo and I headed to Foxwoods for an afternoon of poker and The Price is Right Live Stage Show later that evening. The show was, in a word, awesome. All of our favorite Price is Right games were featured, and host Todd Newton was funny, charismatic, and entertaining. However, this post isn’t about the show itself. It’s about something during the show that reminded me of one of the best ad campaigns ever.
Hole-in-One (or Two!) featured a contestant trying to guess the prices of products in ascending order. One of those products was Aspercreme Heat. Jo leaned over to me and told me that if she were up on stage, she’d reply to Todd Newton with, “You bet your sweet Aspercreme, Todd”.
This took us back to 2005 and Aspercreme’s phenomenal ad campaign in which their jingle gleefully proclaimed, “You bet your sweet Aspercreme!”. Until retards like this got their panties in a bunch, forcing the company to change the jingle to the infinitely less entertaining (and less memorable) “You bet if it’s Aspercreme!”. When the updated ads started airing, it was blantantly obvious that it had changed, and if I’ve proven anything in the past, I really dislike it when companies change their commercials slightly and pretend nothing has happened. Shame on Chattem for caving in to a bunch of self-righteous assholes and ruining entertaining early evening syndication advertising for everyone. Still, the updated versions are still miles ahead of this abomination.
So, to review, effin’ oss:
The one with the newer jingle is so lame that there are no videos of it anywhere on the interweb. Pwned.
Tags: 00s live stage shows, 00s tv commercials, aspercreme, aspercreme heat, best ad campaign ever, chattem, foxwoods, hole in one (or two), jingles, panties in a bunch, poker, self-righteous assholes, the price is right, the price is right live stage show, todd newton, you bet if it's aspercreme, you bet your sweet aspercreme
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songspeak
What’cha gonna do? Ghostbusters!
Last night playing poker, I was watching the action after getting knocked out. It was down to the final 5 players, and one of them went all-in. The guy with the most chips called, and then the last guy, who had the least amount of chips, made a call that was mathematically correct, even though his cards weren’t really good at all. Turns out the guy who didn’t have very good cards ended up with a full house, winning the hand and tripling up. We were discussing the hand afterwards, and about how he had to call with garbage, beating two much better hands. One of the guys said, “What are ya gonna do?” and then the older lady who runs the tournament and was also watching burst out with, “Ghostbusters!” and started laughing. She knew that technically, you’re supposed to say that after someone says, “Who ya gonna call?”, but she couldn’t help herself.
And, I mean, really…what child of the 80’s hasn’t songspoken this? Last night reminded me of that, and it also made me search for the original music video. I found it, and boy, had I forgotten what a gem it is. The celebrity cameos are amazing, and Ray Parker, Jr.’s creep factor is through the roof. So I’m gonna post it here. Know why? ‘Cause bustin’ makes me feel good.
Tags: 80s movies, 80s music, bustin' makes me feel good, celebrity cameos, creep factor, full house, ghostbusters, ghostbusters music video, poker, ray parker jr, what are ya gonna do, what are you gonna do, who ya gonna call, who you gonna call
6 comments
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songspeak
Daughtry’s long lost twin?
Matt and I have a friend that, we think, bears an uncanny resemblance to Chris Daughtry. I’ll withhold his name to protect the innocent, but you can be the judge:
The funny thing about this is, we tease him about it every now and then, and last year a bunch of us were going to get together to play poker. We emailed him during the workday before playing about how appreciative we were that he was taking time off his busy tour schedule to play poker with us. Then, that night, Matt got pretty low in chips in the game and all but counted himself out of the game. Our friend, completely oblivious I might add, just said, “It’s not over”. Matt asked him to repeat himself, because Matt realized before the rest of us that he had unknowingly songspoken the first major Daughtry hit, It’s Not Over, which was getting heavy airplay at the time. I still hear it every so often on the radio at work, and am always reminded of this story.
Tags: 00s music, chris daughtry, daughtry, it's not over, poker
2 comments
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