This was my first visit to the Fine Line. This venue is 3 blocks from my apartment, and it's charming inside. Exposed brick, streetlamps along one wall to make it look like an outdoor cafe. I bought the slightly pricier reserved table seating in the balcony. You walk upstairs, and there is a table that literally has your name on it, a carafe of ice ( Read more... )

I had been indecisive about whether I was going or not--did I feel like showing up?--but the day of the concert I went out to see if tickets were still available.

I made it about 2 blocks before I turned around and went back for a jacket. It was cold! A benefit of living downtown.

The line to get in went down the street and around the corner. I ( Read more... )

I wasn't even really sure I was going to go to this show--I wanted to, but the tickets were expensive ($35) and I've had a bad track record lately seeing bands I saw 20 years ago. But when I saw R5 Productions tweet that there were only 20 tickets left, I had to make a decision. I gave Nicola a hard time about making me go to see Jay-Z but ( Read more... )

Yesterday evening I went to Brickbat Books (1.3 miles each way) for a book signing for Touch and Go: The Complete Hardcore Punk Zine ’79-’83 and Why Be Something That You're Not: Detroit Hardcore 1979-1985. I got there a few minutes late and the author was just standing around chit-chatting and drinking beer. I guess reading a selection from a zine ( Read more... )

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The El Vez show last Thursday started pretty much as I expected: good clean El Vez holiday fun, with lots of cheesy jokes and lots of costume changes. mrrranda, jdsalmon, and I wore our Santa outfits. jdsalmon (aka El Santo Claus) even got up on stage and boogied with El Vez, the El Vettes, and a giant inflatable snowman.

Then events turned far more surreal.
( Read more... )