Bruuuuuuuce

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have a new album and tour. The North American leg hits Verizon Center November 11th, tix on sale September 21st. “Radio Nowhere,” the first single from the album, will be available free on the iTunes Store. or if you’re not into DRM, go here or here.

Does it have a 867-5309 (Jenny) vibe? Find out for yourself.

The Indigo Cuban

Friday we didn’t do much, I made a quick frozen pasta dinner. There was someone playing near us, but Jill was wiped, and I wasn’t too far behind her.

Saturday we went to Silver Spring, where my sister’s living now. First we stopped nearby, to pick up some tix to Sunday’s Indigo Girls show I picked upon Craigslist, then went to her apartment, where my mom and dad soon showed up. Sharon served us some chips and salsa and we chatted for a while, then drove over to Cubano’s, which seemed to be the best reviewed place in the neigborhood. I had the Mi Tierra, a combo sampler (I liked the chicken best) while Jill had a Cuban sandwich and soup. We had considered going out afterwards, but the thunderstorms discouraged us. We went home and I saw the first pro football game I can recall called for rain.

Sunday the crick in my neck I’d had Saturday erupted in pain every time I turned my head, but I forged ahead. I made biscuits for breakfast because I’d been craving them and took Illa for a walk, then camped out on the couch. I wasn’t much in the mood for a concert, but we had fun anyway. We picked up some Popeye’s on the way, then met up with our friends Meg and Mackenzie and some of their friends and had a good time picnicing. We were really there for the opening act, Girlyman, and they were their funny, harmonious selves. We stayed for about half of the Indigo Girls, but they were doing mostly newer songs we didn’t know, and Jill wanted to get home before 10 so she could go to bed, so we missed Girlyman joining them.

A must show

A tribute to Jimi Hendrix, featuring Buddy Guy, Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the original Experience rhythm section, Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell. The show is Tuesday, Oct. 16th at Constitution Hall, tix on sale this Friday. Here’s a taste of Robert Randolph & the Family Band doing Purple Haze.

Desert Island Disc

There’s a new book that updates the answer of “What one album would you take to a desert island?”. The sample chapter prompted me to think of mine, especially the quote from Andrew Eldritch (Sisters of Mercy), “all you have to do is look at the sleeve of an album, or even its spine, and everything about that album comes rushing back to you”.

Mine would have to be Extreme’s second album, Pornograffitti. Yes, it had the big hit, and the other one, and several that should have been, but it’s an album that has a perfect balance of ballads, rockers, and weird ones (instrumentals, torch songs). Most of the album is in their trademark “funky metal” style – hard rock threaded with Nuno’s amazing riffs. Add some Neal Adams art, and it’s a complete package. Live, it was something to see (and they still pulled it off at last year’s reunion shows). I still pull it out every once in a while, but don’t need to – I know every lick by heart.

Bonus contest: first comment gets a copy (must pick up in VA).