Twenty-two years ago, I was just minding my own business.

At the consulting company where I worked, I had just finished developing BankBoston’s HomeLink & OfficeLink banking applications, and was about to roll onto a new project for a local startup.

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Four days after returning from Asia via Tokyo, I undertook a new adventure: Japanese ritual drumming-or taiko-in the form of a four-week beginner’s workshop offered by local group Pittsburgh Taiko.

Big drums have been used in Japan for centuries in religious rituals and to inspire troops in battle. However, kumi-daiko-the current style and form of ( Read more... )

Reflecting back on the hundreds-if not thousands-of concerts I've been to, there are a couple that stand out as tremendously disappointing, and they have quite a bit in common.

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If I were to choose the destination for a birthday trip, I probably wouldn’t choose Cleveland. However, that’s what Inna wanted. At least it’s easily accessible from home. Here’s a quick trip report.

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It’s been a long time since I had a normal men’s haircut.

I first grew my hair out long in 1991, soon after my wife left, and wore it long-sometimes down to my hips-for the next ten years. I was buying Pantene in two-liter jugs, but it was worth it. All the girls loved it, and the inevitable offers to brush it out or braid it were welcome at a ( Read more... )

It’s official: in six weeks TT the Bears will shutter and disappear, leaving Central Square that much more normal.

Right next door to the Middle East, TT’s booked bands that would have struggled in that larger venue. But that gave TT’s the freedom to feature all kinds of unknown but enjoyable acts.

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With everything else that’s going on, I figured I’d kill some time with a more spontaneous, stream of consciousness post.

It’s purely conjecture, but one of the things I think people enjoy about my blog is when I relate stories about experiences that might be a little uncommon. And since most of my friends and readers are younger than I, one way ( Read more... )

Want to feel old? Just take a look behind you…

I’ve been blogging long enough now to post the third installment in my series of posts remembering people, places, and things that Boston has lost since I moved in.

Nostalgia. Memorabilia. Whatever synonym you use, it’s likely to evoke the same ( Read more... )

These days, it’s not so outré to live without a car, or a television, or to not bother going to the movies. But tell people that you’re giving up music, and you’ll be surprised at how strongly people react.

Music obviously has a great rep. It’s the stuff of life, it’s how you share emotions, it’s something you need in order to get through the day.
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I used to spend my free time hanging out in the Boston club scene, seeing live music nearly every day. In those years, I saw a lot of noteworthy shows, some of which are cherished memories.

But those days peaked about sixteen years ago. I really don’t go ( Read more... )