Dateline Richfield, MN:
In a little more than one hour Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released upon the world. Sometime back in early March I reserved my copy and now I find myself, 28 years old, sitting in Richfield Minnesota at 10:53 pm on a Friday night eagerly awaiting a children's book. Things could be worse...
I walked into Borders this evening and upon entering was given a blue colored wristband. Basically what this means is that I will have to wait until the "blue group" is called and then (and only then) will I be able to claim my copy. I was sort of hoping that I would have to put on a raggedy sorting cap and be mystically told which group I would be apart of.
However, on my trip to Diagon Alley (Borders) I discovered that the Leaky Cauldron (some call it Don Pablos) was still open. I used a simple charm spell and convinced them to serve me a tall mug of Ale even though I strolled in a little past their suburban version of last call. If only for 20 minutes and a pint of Ale, this defiantly beats standing in line and observing the madness that is Harry Potter release night. What the hey, Blue team won't go until well after midnight.
I have been to the "grand release" of the past three books. This one is by far the most bizarre. I believe that this is due to two factors. One, this is the last book and Two, I usually go to the Borders in Downtown Minneapolis. I believe that the suburban locations tend to have better turnouts for late night events. Anyway...I just saw a girl walk in with a prom dress on. No kidding! A prom dress! I am not sure where a wizzarding world a prom dress comes into play but who am I to question.
My favorite people I have met at this event are couple who I parked next to. This is a great story...I pull into Borders...it's totally packed so I just go to the way back, dark corner of the parking lot. There is one car there, for some reason I decide to park next to it. As soon as I pull up a guy sits up and looks around as if to say "comon'...nothing happening here". How embarrassing...I just busted up a suburban grownup make out session. This is defiantly awkward and this guy is just kind of glaring at me. His windows are down so I say the first thing that comes to mind..."Looks like the place to be eh?" Ok time to go...I scurry away and find myself recounting my own tale of adventure and danger while waiting for another.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Overrated Suds...
Call it a case of being spoiled by "real" premium beer recently but I am going to call shenanigans on Fat Tire Amber. It is not the beer of legend that many speak of.
Last night I walked into the beer store and saw a huge display welcoming Fat Tire back to the Twin Cities market. My of my beer loving friends (and other experts) rate this beer as one of the finest America has to offer. For quite some time now you would have to drive a ways to get this Fort Collins, CO specialty. I had the good fortune to sample this beer when I was backpacking in Colorado back in 1999. I remember it being good but that that was at a time in my life when "cold" equaled good enough to my beer pallet. (On several occasions "warm" was OK too)
Since this beer is a new feature at the store, I decided to pick up 22 ounces of this brew. Strike one...a 22 oz bottle runs $4.50. For those of you who don't regularly buy beers in the "fun size" this is a bit on the high side. A similar size Becks is about 3 bucks, a Heineken is the same, a "Tall Boy" of Bud, Miller or PBR is about $2 in most places. I have spent upwards of $6 per bottle, but only on a select few beers. (Delerium, Rouge and some barley wines)
Strike Two...Flavor. I found this beer to be overly hoppy. This would be fine in an IPA or EPA but this is an Amber. Generally, I would expect an Amber to be a bit sweeter at first and then finish with a bit of hops. This was just hopped up all over. It was not enjoyable.
I adjusted to the flavor and accepted it for what it was, but I can safely say I don't need to do this again. I think the legend got the best of me on this one. If I had not heard any of the build up I probably would have said this beer is OK. The fact that so many have billed this as a "don't miss opportunity" made it hard to pass up. In hindsight I should have reached one slot to the left and grabbed a PBR.
Last night I walked into the beer store and saw a huge display welcoming Fat Tire back to the Twin Cities market. My of my beer loving friends (and other experts) rate this beer as one of the finest America has to offer. For quite some time now you would have to drive a ways to get this Fort Collins, CO specialty. I had the good fortune to sample this beer when I was backpacking in Colorado back in 1999. I remember it being good but that that was at a time in my life when "cold" equaled good enough to my beer pallet. (On several occasions "warm" was OK too)
Since this beer is a new feature at the store, I decided to pick up 22 ounces of this brew. Strike one...a 22 oz bottle runs $4.50. For those of you who don't regularly buy beers in the "fun size" this is a bit on the high side. A similar size Becks is about 3 bucks, a Heineken is the same, a "Tall Boy" of Bud, Miller or PBR is about $2 in most places. I have spent upwards of $6 per bottle, but only on a select few beers. (Delerium, Rouge and some barley wines)
Strike Two...Flavor. I found this beer to be overly hoppy. This would be fine in an IPA or EPA but this is an Amber. Generally, I would expect an Amber to be a bit sweeter at first and then finish with a bit of hops. This was just hopped up all over. It was not enjoyable.
I adjusted to the flavor and accepted it for what it was, but I can safely say I don't need to do this again. I think the legend got the best of me on this one. If I had not heard any of the build up I probably would have said this beer is OK. The fact that so many have billed this as a "don't miss opportunity" made it hard to pass up. In hindsight I should have reached one slot to the left and grabbed a PBR.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Country Farms and a Methodist Brass Band!?
Yesterday was the busiest day we will have on the tour. We were originally supposed to have some clinics during the day and then an evening concert. The clinics ended up getting dropped for some reason and replaced with more performances. We played a one hour set at lunch time for a corporate office complex, a forty five minute set at an old country farm/event center and finally our featured performance. It was a long day of playing to say the least!
The "farm" that we played at was pretty cool. It dated back to the early 1100's and is still in use as a residence. The people that live there seem to rent it out for private parties and events. There were all sorts of beautiful gardens and sculptures on the grounds. The main buildings had not been modernized too much. The rooms that I walked through all appeared to be pretty much as they would have been in the 1200 and 1300's.
The final performance of the trip was at a Methodist Church in Durham. We ended up having a pretty good turnout and I think that people were pretty surprised by what they heard. The band sounded really good...check that...really, REALLY good!
During the performance I was having fun looking around at the looks on peoples faces. Nearly everyone was smiling! Also, nearly everyone was clapping or tapping something at some point in the show. We also had a contingent of teenage girls who would later horde us for autographs. Look out New Kids on the Block, Jack Brass is on the scene now. (editors note: If you have ever seen the JBB, you know how they could easily be confused with teen idols)
Anyway, the band has been a big hit. We have sold a lot of CD's, handed out cards and had many people comment on how they hadn't seen anything quite like it.
The "farm" that we played at was pretty cool. It dated back to the early 1100's and is still in use as a residence. The people that live there seem to rent it out for private parties and events. There were all sorts of beautiful gardens and sculptures on the grounds. The main buildings had not been modernized too much. The rooms that I walked through all appeared to be pretty much as they would have been in the 1200 and 1300's.
The final performance of the trip was at a Methodist Church in Durham. We ended up having a pretty good turnout and I think that people were pretty surprised by what they heard. The band sounded really good...check that...really, REALLY good!
During the performance I was having fun looking around at the looks on peoples faces. Nearly everyone was smiling! Also, nearly everyone was clapping or tapping something at some point in the show. We also had a contingent of teenage girls who would later horde us for autographs. Look out New Kids on the Block, Jack Brass is on the scene now. (editors note: If you have ever seen the JBB, you know how they could easily be confused with teen idols)
Anyway, the band has been a big hit. We have sold a lot of CD's, handed out cards and had many people comment on how they hadn't seen anything quite like it.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Sunday....the adventure continues....
We have had two solid days of good weather! It is about 65 degrees and sunny hear, I don't think we could ask for much better. Musicly the festival is going very well. Yesterday (Saturday) we played 3 sets around town and it was a big hit! We sold over 30 CD's and recieved many compliments. People here have not heard this type of sound before. Both musicians and passersby have been interested in what we are doing.
This afternoon (Sunday) we played in a brass band compettition. We were a "non-judged" performance and we were later told that we go about as warm a welcome as one can get from a Brittish audience. Apparently they are not a wild group when they like somehting, instead they politely clap. If they don't like it, they don't clap at all. Since everyone clapped after every tune (not the norm) they must have liked what was going on. Some people were even tapping on their shoes, which I guess is nearly unheard of!
I also managed to break my trumpet today. I am not exactly sure what happened but my third valve does not work so well at the moment. I am guessing that my wedding ring made a slight dent in the valve casing causing the valve to bind. The good news is I don't need that valve as much and it will in time work itself out. The bad news is that by "working out" it causes a groove to be worn into the valve...I am guessing that this is not the intended way for valves to work. At any rate, for our stage show on Monday I am hoping to have at least two thirds of a working horn. The valve is starting to loosen up and after a bit more work it should be free.
This afternoon (Sunday) we played in a brass band compettition. We were a "non-judged" performance and we were later told that we go about as warm a welcome as one can get from a Brittish audience. Apparently they are not a wild group when they like somehting, instead they politely clap. If they don't like it, they don't clap at all. Since everyone clapped after every tune (not the norm) they must have liked what was going on. Some people were even tapping on their shoes, which I guess is nearly unheard of!
I also managed to break my trumpet today. I am not exactly sure what happened but my third valve does not work so well at the moment. I am guessing that my wedding ring made a slight dent in the valve casing causing the valve to bind. The good news is I don't need that valve as much and it will in time work itself out. The bad news is that by "working out" it causes a groove to be worn into the valve...I am guessing that this is not the intended way for valves to work. At any rate, for our stage show on Monday I am hoping to have at least two thirds of a working horn. The valve is starting to loosen up and after a bit more work it should be free.
Durham England: Day One
We arrived in Amsterdam at about 10:30 am Friday morning. (4:30 am Minneapolis Standard Time) Three of the guys in the band (myself included) did not handle the approach to the airport very well. It was a longer than normal decent due to weather and runways being shut down. At any rate, the cabin began to feel very stuffy and the wonderful airplane cocktails from the night before were considering using the emergency exit. I think for the others it may have been a legitimate case of motion sickness, mine was most likely a legitimate case of sleep deprivation crossed with cheap red wine. (Who would have guessed that 2006 was such a fine vintage. Thanks Northwest Airlines!)
From Amsterdam we took a "city hopper" to Newcastle, about a 1 and a half hour flight. The hospitality on these international flights has been incredible! We received 3 meals over the course of both flights as well as free beverages of our choice on the flight from MPLS. The other thing I noticed is that on the KLH flight from Amsterdam the stewardesses were very polite to everyone and even telling jokes. I have not noticed this as much on other flights. Due to turbulence and smaller aircraft I would liken the flight to Mr. Toads Wild Ride. Overall, an outstanding experience.
Upon arriving at Newcastle we would soon discover that our bass drum and tuba didn't make it with us. As far as I know they are still enjoying the comfy confines of the Netherlands. All is well though, as soon as we arrived in Durham we were able to line up a bass drum and tuba for our Saturday shows should our equipment not arrive. Luckily, tubas and bass drums are used to some degree by every band at the festival.
Durham is a very beautiful town. It is almost exactly what I think of when someone says "small town in England". The streets make very little sense, there are long winding alleys, abundant dead ends and a giant castle. Today I will be taking pictures and posting them, I am sure they will do no justice.
So far we are all pretty wiped out. It has been a brutal 30 or so hours of travel and we are in much need of a rest. Tomorrow we play three 45 minute sets at different locations around town as part of the "Streets of Brass" I can't wait to see peoples reaction to what we do and meet some of the other musicians involved with the festival.
Lost instruments, cellar temperature pub ales, motion sickness striking down two thirds of the band, an incredible concert and my first international library card. All in all an incredible day!
From Amsterdam we took a "city hopper" to Newcastle, about a 1 and a half hour flight. The hospitality on these international flights has been incredible! We received 3 meals over the course of both flights as well as free beverages of our choice on the flight from MPLS. The other thing I noticed is that on the KLH flight from Amsterdam the stewardesses were very polite to everyone and even telling jokes. I have not noticed this as much on other flights. Due to turbulence and smaller aircraft I would liken the flight to Mr. Toads Wild Ride. Overall, an outstanding experience.
Upon arriving at Newcastle we would soon discover that our bass drum and tuba didn't make it with us. As far as I know they are still enjoying the comfy confines of the Netherlands. All is well though, as soon as we arrived in Durham we were able to line up a bass drum and tuba for our Saturday shows should our equipment not arrive. Luckily, tubas and bass drums are used to some degree by every band at the festival.
Durham is a very beautiful town. It is almost exactly what I think of when someone says "small town in England". The streets make very little sense, there are long winding alleys, abundant dead ends and a giant castle. Today I will be taking pictures and posting them, I am sure they will do no justice.
So far we are all pretty wiped out. It has been a brutal 30 or so hours of travel and we are in much need of a rest. Tomorrow we play three 45 minute sets at different locations around town as part of the "Streets of Brass" I can't wait to see peoples reaction to what we do and meet some of the other musicians involved with the festival.
Lost instruments, cellar temperature pub ales, motion sickness striking down two thirds of the band, an incredible concert and my first international library card. All in all an incredible day!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Got here safe and sound...
We arrived safe and sound today. Other than a few details with luggage everything is going well. I am feeling a bit sleep deprived but that will work itself out by tomorrow morning. Will put up a more substantial post later!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
All Packed...Almost Ready to Leave...
Well...everything fit into one big backpack, a trumpet case and a standard size carry on bag. Probably brought more than I needed but better safe than sorry. My flight leaves at 7pm tonight and I should arrive in Amsterdam sometime around 10am on Friday. I have a feeling that there will be some jet lag involved. Can't wait to get there....
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