What I Liked About November

*The Last Good Time IV Birthday Celebration
*Picking through the remains of Tower Records
*The successful making of Waldorf Salad for Thanksgiving
*The 11 a.m. matinee of "Borat" at the Newport Centre mall



*The Meat Purveyors' farewell at the CMJ Bloodshot BBQ
*The WFMU Record Fair
*Actually starting Christmas shopping before December
*Joe Ely at Joe's Pub



*The Yayhoos/Bottle Rockets at the Mercury Lounge
*The coconut chicken at Maxwell's on my birthday
*"The Real Match Game Story: Behind the Blanks" on GSN
*The willingness of people with cars to drive me places

Get Out: The Monthlong Birthday Celebration (The End)

One last chance for you to celebrate the wonder of me and one of my favorite musicians.

TUE--Scott Miller ( Rodeo Bar, NYC)

It's definitely been a good year when I get the chance to see Scott Miller three times. Alas, this time is not with his backing band, the mighty Commonwealth, but I'm still, as the kids say, stoked. I'm slightly nervous at the prospect of a solo acoustic show at the frequently rowdy Rodeo Bar, but since it's a Tuesday, I reckon people will be able to control themselves. I often reckon wrong, however. Of course, there's only one way for you to find out. Drag your ass to the Rodeo Bar, fool. The show's free. They don't even pass around a tip bucket. Plus you can get any number of communicable diseases while eating the free peanuts. Fun! 10 p.m.!

Anyway, Scott Miller is awesome, and you oughta go. And if you can't, (a) no, I don't understand and (b) at least check out his fancy new website.

As for the week that was, last Monday at the Living Room was spent upstairs watching three really good, Marah-approved songwriters, Christine Smith, Willie Breeding , and Adam Masterson. I don't think they're good because Marah tells me to; I think they're good because they're good.

Speaking of Marah (there's a first time for everything), a late decision (and a willing driver) found me in scenic Ringwood, NJ, on Sunday to see Marah at a house concert. Those are always fun. And so it was on Sunday. You should go see Marah someday. Really. How about December 8 at Irving Plaza? Whaddya say?

And I have just returned home from the Living Room, where I successfully fulfilled my promise to see Jim Boggia and Mike Viola. Good times. A little too poppy for my tastes, but it was a fun show. Check out their live shows if you get the chance, particularly Boggia's.

Now, Tinsel and Rot must rest.

Why Billy Joe Shaver Is Cooler Than You'll Ever Be and One of the Greatest Human Beings Ever

From the current issue of Country Weekly:

"Second Chance
Billy Joe Shaver remarries ex-wife, breaks vertebra

Legendary songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, the author of hits for John Anderson and Waylon Jennings, remarried Wanda Lynn Canady on Friday, Oct. 13. The couple's first marriage was annulled. The Las Vegas ceremony was conducted by Billy Gibbons of the rock band ZZ Top. Shortly after the wedding, Billy Joe cracked a vertebra while wrestling with a friend. He was forced to cancel several shows, but is expected to recover fully. The Texas-based singer/songwriter married his first wife, Brenda, three times before her death in 1999."

***

So, to recap: By the power vested in Billy Gibbons, Billy Joe married Wanda for the second time, which only puts her second in the Number of Times Married to Billy Joe Shaver contest. Then, the 67-year-old groom injured his back while wrestling a friend.

All that and he writes killer songs, too. God bless Billy Joe Shaver.

If you want to read more about one of the more interesting lives ever lived (and, clearly, still being lived), check out a 2002 bio of Billy Joe. He's also written his own bio. And go buy his CDs at his website.

Get Out: The Monthlong Birthday Celebration Edition (Week 4)

After the official birthday celebrations last week, Tinsel and Rot takes it slow this week, focusing mostly on giving thanks and eating turkey.

MON 11/20 (7 p.m.) Kinky Friedman book signing (Barnes and Noble Astor Place, NYC)

The man who would have been governor reads from and signs his new book, "The Christmas Pig." I haven't read it yet, but I've read just about all of Kinky's books and enjoyed nearly every one. And his readings are always entertaining, so long as you're not easily offended. And if you are easily offended, what are you doing here? Anyway, check it out if you can.

MON 11/20 (9 p.m.)--Jim Boggia/Mike Viola (The Living Room , NYC)

A Tinsel and Rot field operative has strongly suggested that I go to one of the shows in the every-Monday-in-November residency these two guys have at the Living Room. And since I'll be in the city anyway, I figure this Monday's the day. There were also rumblings that friend of Marah Adam Masterson would be doing a show upstairs in Googie's Lounge, but there hasn't been confirmation of that. So I guess I'll find out when I get there. And so can you.

The only other show I would go to this week would probably be the New York Dolls/Supersuckers show on Wednesday at Irving Plaza. But I think I will be unavailable to attend. Still, it should be good. The Supersuckers just put out a new EP now available at their online store for the special price of $6.66. They're a fun band. And once you get past the fact that Staten Island's pride and joy David Johansen looks like he weighs about 90 pounds, you'll probably enjoy the Dolls, too.

As for last week's recap, Christine Smith's CD release show (with special guests Kirk Henderson and Dave Bielanko--from a little band called Marah--and Jesse Malin) was a real good time. She performed the entire CD, which you oughta go buy, and much fun was had by all. Then it was on to Joe Ely, which was pretty damn awesome. He told lots of stories in between songs (including one about the day he joined the circus...seriously) and finished the main set with "Gallo del Cielo," which is definitely in my All-Time Top 5 Songs . The song's written by Tom Russell, but it's Ely's versions that always get me going. I don't know why a song about cockfighting gets me so emotional, but it does. And then he encored with his cover of Terry Allen's "Gimme A Ride to Heaven, Boy," another fine song. Damn, that was a good show.

I had my faith in Will Hoge restored on Wednesday, shortly after partaking in a birthday dinner of pierogies and coconut chicken at Maxwell's. Hoge was miles better than he was the last time I saw him in Brooklyn and the crowd wasn't nearly as annoying, or at least I positioned myself far enough back that they didn't bother me. They're just an awesome live band, and you really oughta check 'em out someday. Just keep your distance from the swaying, screaming drunk girls. Or get real close to them. I won't tell you how to live your life.

Sickness and crappy weather kept me away from the Bruce Hornsby show in Red Bank, but I rallied to take in another rocktastic Bobby Bare Jr. show at the Mercury Lounge. "The Heart Bionic" is battling "Zoysia" for the title of Favorite Live Song of 2006. I tried to hang in for Centro-Matic's set, but I wasn't really digging them too much. And so, because I was still a little under the weather and had to gird myself for a birthday celebration on Saturday, I bailed after 8 songs. I don't like doing that, but they just weren't doing it for me. I'm sure they'll get over that.

And on Saturday, we partied like 13-year-olds. And it was good.

Get Out: The Monthlong Birthday Celebration Edition (Week Three)

The road goes on forever, the party never ends...

TUE (7 p.m.)--Christine Smith CD Release Party (Living Room, NYC)

The first part of the evening begins at the Living Room on Ludlow Street with the CD release party for Christine Smith's new "Tomorrow Blues" disc, featuring members of Marah, whom I think I've mentioned my fondness for. Smith's been playing keyboards at select Marah shows over the last year, and I, as the kids say, dug her solo set at the Night of Phidelity back in September. So I shall celebrate the release of her CD with yet another trip to the Living Room, where my brand-new New Jersey Non-Driver's ID will get its first onceover. I've mentioned the fine zucchini sticks at the Living Room (via Zozo's, which is just around the corner), but, upon the recommendation of Maybe Pete's Johnny Macko, I can now also add that the bag of doughnuts is also delightful.

TUE (9:30 p.m.)--Joe Ely (Joe's Pub, NYC)

After the Christine Smith show, it's up and over to the Joe Ely solo show at Joe's Pub. It's been awhile since Ely's done a solo show in the area (though he's done a few gigs with the Flatlanders), so it should be cool. Joe Ely, for those who don't know (and, what the hell, for those who do know, too), is one of Texas's finest exports--a great songwriter, a killer performer, and one of the first alt-country guys I latched onto when I first started listening to that kind of music. And I probably picked up "Letter to Laredo" (maybe his best, though "Honky Tonk Masquerade" aint bad either, or any of his live discs) because I remembered his name from the list of performers who played at the National Wrestling Alliance's Great American Bash cards in the mid-1980s. And that just goes to show you that it doesn't matter how you get there, just that you get there.

WED--Will Hoge (Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ)

Still on the fence about this one, as the last Will Hoge show I saw (at Southpaw in Brooklyn) was so overly populated by giggly, drunken party-girl types that it was actually distracting. I lost count of the number of pictures taken of groups of such lasses while they had their backs to the stage. Unacceptable behavior, ladies. Backs should never be to the performers. They're putting on the show, not you. I wouldn't go to your show.

Anyway, I've yet to decide if it's worth the risk of spending my actual birthday (yep, Wednesday's the day) at a show with lots of people that will just make me angry. But I think I like Will Hoge enough to think it may just be worth it. We'll see.

THU--Bruce Hornsby (Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ)

Oh, I know. Bruce Hornsby's not cool, right? Well, maybe not, but I like him (most of the time; I'll forgive him for the Dead years and a couple crappy albums), and one of my favorite all-time shows was when he played the Count Basie (a cool theatre in a cool town) back in, I think, 1995. He invited everybody up on stage at one point in the show, something I've only seen him and Andrew W.K. do with any sort of success, and it was just an overall really cool show. I have been mocked many times for my fondness for Mr. Hornsby, but, like my fondness for Huey Lewis (and, yes, I like "Jacob's Ladder"), I ignore the mockery. Plus, Tinsel and Rot devotee and sporadic blogger Bryan Chambala recently admitted a fondness for Mr. Hornsby. Is there any greater sign that it is time to declare Bruce Hornsby cool? Lest you think that question is rhetorical, I will answer it for you. No.

Two more fine reasons to go are (a) I have a gift certificate to the Count Basie and (b) everybody gets a free boxed set with admission. Sweet.

FRI--Centro-Matic/Bobby Bare Jr. (Mercury Lounge, NYC)

Am I tired of seeing Bobby Bare Jr. yet? Nope. After recently surpassing Bob Dylan (whose local shows I'm actually skipping this week because, well, I don't feel the need to see him in an arena again) on the Times Seen by James Sigman list, Bare Jr.'s back in town, opening for Centro-Matic, whom I've heard good things about but never seen. Yes, there are bands I've never seen. Weird, huh?

The Bobby Bare Jr. shows I've seen supporting his new CD ("The Longest Meow") have been damn good. He's got a real strong band behind him, and they're playing the hell out of the new stuff. Check them out. They also play Saturday at the same place.

As for the recap from last week, the Bottle Rockets show in Brooklyn was depressingly underattended (unofficial count of actual Bottle Rockets fans: 8) and started way too late for a weeknight (doors were supposed to be at 8; the opening band--not so good--started just before 10), but was fun anyway. Europa's a weird place, but I kinda like it. How can you not like a place with a picture of underachieving hockey tool Mariusz Czerkawski proudly displayed? But their production skills need a little work.

The Bottle Rockets/Yayhoos show, on the other hand, was as close to perfect as possible. After the Bottle Rockets roared through their set (the live version of "Zoysia" is one of the best things going right now), the Yayhoos kicked off their set with NRBQ's "It Comes to Me Naturally." If there is anything greater than a Yayhoos show opening with a cover of an NRBQ song, I'm not aware of it. And like the Q, the Yayhoos are so clearly having a ball on stage that the fact that the music is killer is almost secondary. If you can't have fun at a Yayhoos show, particularly one in New York City, then you can't have fun at all. And I also got to scream out the lyrics to the set-closing "Garbagehead," a fine Eric Ambel song that I very much enjoy screaming out lyrics to.

The Matthew Ryan/Michelle Malone/Thad Cockrell show at the Living Room was good, but I must admit that I spent some of the show thinking I should've gone to the last-minute Yayhoos happy hour show at the Lakeside Lounge. It was cool to hear some new Ryan songs (though it might've been cooler to hear a few older ones) and I liked Cockrell and Malone just fine (the drunken dude heckling Malone at the table next to me I cared for a bit less), but it was so mellow that I found my mind drifting at times. And then when I found out on Terry Anderson's blog that the Lakeside show featured no repeats from the Mercury Lounge show and started with "Battleship Chains," my weekend was ruined.

Country When Country Isn't Cool

I didn't have a seat of my own in the audience at this year's Country Music Association Awards but I did have a seat on my increasingly uncomfortable futon as this year's CMAs unfolded on my television screen. And here's how it went down.

8:05--After an all-star start to the show with Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, and Sheryl Crow (for the record, if I get cancer, I won't be wasting any time singing with Brooks, Dunn, or any combination thereof), Eva Longoria is introduced to the crowd. There is apparently no invitation that Eva Longoria will turn down. Can someone find out if she'll come to my birthday party?

8:08--LeAnn Rimes presents an award with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Note to Richie: The time in your life when you can appear in public with your chest exposed has passed. A long time ago. Put on a sweater. And a jacket on top of that.

8:19--Brad Paisley and a band with a very bored mandolin player perform what I expect will be the first of many Bad Songs That Will Soon Be Played at Many Weddings. And the lyrics are actually outsucked by two completely uncountry guitar solos.

8:29--Ooh, Sugarland. Boy, they sure let the guy do a lot in Sugarland.

8:33--I'm starting to think that Gretchen Wilson might not be entirely awful. The song she sings aint bad.

8:46--Bad Song That Will Soon Be Played at Many Weddings #2 comes from the usually acceptable Alan Jackson. Back to songs with a pulse, Jackson.

8:50--This song by Little Big Town ("Bones") sounds like what would happen if the Manhattan Transfer decided to go country. But somehow less cool. Too bad, 'cause I kinda liked "Boondocks."

8:59--The Three-Headed Satan that is Rascal Flatts (led by the sunglass-sporting demon Gary LeVox) delivers another rancid tune (and another awful guitar solo) that makes me want to give up completely on country music. Seriously, who listens to this crap and thinks, "What a great country song"?

9:07--The Country Music Association salutes the many awesomely talented musicians in Nashville by announcing its Musician of the Year Award. Unfortunately, there's no time to actually give the award out on the air. Sorry, Randy Scruggs, must make room for Chesney!

9:13--Martina McBride breaks from script by not doing a Bad Song That Will Soon Be Played at Many Weddings. Instead, she does a Really Bad Inspirational Song That Will Soon Be Played at Many Telethons. She gets a partial standing ovation. Or else people just want to stretch.

9:17--The Annual Five Minutes of Credibility begins as Kris Kristofferson inducts George Strait into the Country Music Hall of Fame. And the always-steady Strait performs--miracle of miracles--a genuinely good country song ("Give It Away"). I've never been a huge Strait fan, but he's always kept things pretty traditional, so he's A-OK with me. Plus, he calls his son Bubba. You have to like that.

9:28--Kenny Chesney performs. Guess what kind of song it is?

9:32--I like that Wreckers' song. Or maybe I just like the way the Wreckers look.

9:43--When did Dierks Bentley start sucking so hard? And don't tell me he's always sucked. The first few songs were good. This, on the other hand, is as far from good as you can get. And he looks real uncomfortable singing it.

9:46--Little Jimmy Dickens gets two seconds of camera time. Hooray!

9:50--As a Ran Fan, it pains me to say that Miranda Lambert's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" is not so good. Apparently, she's sticking with the Woman Done Wrong Who Wants Revenge genre. And she tries to top last year's singing-in-a-ring-of-fire performance by smashing her guitar on the stage as the song ends. Next year, she'll be kicking a little kid in the shins.

9:59--Faith Hill sings a pretty good song. And that looks like Claritin spokeswoman Kelly Willis singing backup. Faith does seem a little off, though. I hope Tim's treating her well.

10:07--After a ho-hum Josh Turner performance, American Idol ditz Kelly Pickler and Disgrace to Men Billy Currington present the Horizon Award to Carrie Underwood. Quite a collection of folks.

10:12--More credibility as Harold Bradley and Sonny James are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Actually, I'm kinda on the fence about Sonny James. But only because there's no Jimmy Martin in the Hall of Fame.

10:28--I don't care all that much for Sara Evans's performance, but Martina McBride's husband sure seems to dig it.

10:32--Billy Ray Cyrus is raging, raging against the dying of the light. But he just looks like a tool.

10:34--The big controversy of the night, as Carrie Underwood wins Female Vocalist of the Year while Faith Hill seems to express utter disgust. It looked bad at the time (and Faith Hill had to apologize today), but see for yourself at YouTube. It is such an over-the-top reaction that I'm willing to believe Faith on this one. As much as I don't want to.

10:40--Eddie Montgomery and noted hunting enthusiast Troy Gentry present Album of the Year to Brad Paisley. No bears are harmed.

10:53--After another inspirational slow jam from Vince Gill, Barbrara Mandrell wraps up the night by presenting the Entertainer of the Year Award to the tiny-headed Kenny Chesney. And another CMA Awards ceremony comes to a welcome end.

Maybe next year will be the one when things turn around.

Get Out: The Monthlong Birthday Celebration Edition (Week Two)

The first full week of the Monthlong Birthday Celebration brings four shows featuring three of my all-time favorites, including what might be the best double bill in a year of really good double bills.

WED 11/8--The Bottle Rockets (Europa, Brooklyn, NY)

Assuming that I have enough energy by Wednesday to expend on a midweek trip to Greenpoint, this will be the fourth Bottle Rockets show I see this year. I'm torn because it's an opening set (for the Hackensaw Boys, who were good both times I saw them, but I don't know if they're worth staying in Greenpoint until midnight for) and thus may not be as mighty and powerful as the three headlining gigs I've seen this year. But then again, an earlier set means I may get more than six hours' sleep. So I think it's a good thing. I've only been to Europa once before (and never to the continent of Europe, if you're keeping track), but as I recall, it's a weird disco-type of place. Oughta be interesting. I've expounded upon the virtues of the Bottle Rockets before, so all I can say is it'll be a good time. But you know what will be an even better time?

THU 11/9--The Yayhoos/The Bottle Rockets (Mercury Lounge, NYC)

The only thing that prevents this from being the greatest thing ever is that it's not on a weekend. But that's why you leave those extra vacation days on the table for November and December. Two of the greatest live bands I've ever seen are playing on the same bill for the bargain price of $13. This is God's birthday gift to me. Thanks, Chief. I can't see how this show could possibly suck. Maybe if the Yayhoos threw Terry Anderson out of the band right before the show and replaced him with Phil Collins. But I don't suspect that will happen. And so, in a year with Yayhoos/Avett Brothers, Bottle Rockets/Bobby Bare Jr., Drive By Truckers/Bobby Bare Jr., and Alejandro Escovedo/Marah, this gig is primed to be the Double Bill of the Year. If you don't go because you have other commitments, I'll understand (and like you a little less). If you go and don't have a good time, I officially hate you.

FRI 11/10 and SAT 11/11--Matthew Ryan/David Mead/Michelle Malone/Thad Cockrell (The Living Room, NYC)

It's two evenings of Songwriters in the Round at the Living Room, with one of my favorite songwriters (and author of the phrase that gives this blog its name), Matthew Ryan, leading the way. I know very little about the other three folks on the bill, but Ryan's involvement assures my attendance at at least one night. He's got a new CD coming out (for sale at the show) that I'm anxious to hear, and when I last saw him with the now-defunct Strays Don't Sleep, there was a confidence in his performance that I hadn't seen before. In fact, one of my concertgoing highlights of the year was Ryan singing "Cars and History" directly behind a woman who was chatting away and oblivious to what was going on around her. I love it when the concert chatterboxes are embarrassed. It makes the world seem like a better place.

Anyway, it should be a cool couple of nights at the Living Room. Come on out; it's the weekend.

Speaking of the Living Room, here's a brief recap of the three shows I prattled on about last week. The Jon Langford show at the Living Room (with Sally Timms, Jean Cook, Bill Anderson from the Meat Purveyors, and special guest John Wesley Harding) was the usual loose, ridiculously fun Langford show. The music was, as usual, stellar, but you can't beat the between-song repartee between Langford and Timms. The quote of the night came from Langford: "I would take the Dalai Lama roughly from behind." I'd give you the context, but what fun would that be? You should've been there.

The Bloodshot BBQ was its usual fun time, capped off by the bittersweet farewell performance from the Meat Purveyors. They're a helluva live band, mainly because, like all bands worth anything, they seem like they're having the time of their lives while they're up on stage. You could see the mixture of sadness and gleeful, reckless abandon when the band played, and when they finally ended the show with their cover of "We Kill Evil," it was a moment that, well, you should've been there for. And you should've checked out the Deadstring Brothers and Bobby Bare Jr. sets, too. The Bloodshot BBQ rarely disappoints.

And the Maybe Pete/La Dolce Vita show was fun, too. Or it started to be fun after the Sweet Sixteen that broke out between the opening band (The Morning Theft) and La Dolce Vita sets came to a close. Some people shouldn't be given alcohol and digital cameras. And most of them were at Maxwell's Saturday night. Hoo boy. I thought the Michael Jackson songs would never end. But they did, and then Michael Imperioli and La Dolce Vita started up. I don't have much to say about them. It was neither completely awful nor astoundingly good. It was just sort of there. Maybe Pete, though--now that's a band. You, y'know, should've been there. And I'm talking to you, you Soprano-ogling cretins. Stick around next time, wouldya?

Get Out: The Monthlong Birthday Celebration Edition (Week One)

Because there are so many phenomenal shows scheduled for the month of my birth, I figured I'd write about 'em all so you can come out and enjoy them, too. And since I don't drink, you don't even have to buy me a celebratory birthday drink. You can use that money to buy yourself a drink. Cool, no?

I'll break it down week by week so as not to overwhelm you. I'm too good to you.

11/1--Steve Earle/Allison Moorer/Laura Cantrell/Tim Easton (Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY).

Whoops. You missed this one. It was a good time, though. Crowded, but good. And there were the usual Steve Earle fan hecklers who always seem to buy a ticket so they can yell at him when he starts talking politics. Look, I like to hear Steve Earle sing more than talk too, but I can handle it if he wants to say something for a bit. And he's been talking politics at shows for awhile now. It's not a real huge surprise. Deal with it.

Anyway, everybody on the bill was good. Tim Easton started the show at 8:30 and Steve Earle ended it at 1:15, so I'm a little too tired to provide many more details. But Steve Earle is and shall always be cool. Believe that. And seeing him at a small place like Southpaw, while not exactly "mecca" (as proclaimed by the guy next to me, who kept requesting songs while covering his mouth, so Steve wouldn't see him and get angry), was yet another example of why it's cool to be in the NYC area. Yes, even Brooklyn was cool. For one night anyway.

11/3--Jon Langford (Living Room, NYC)

Though the Waco Brothers are still seemingly on deep hiatus (no NYC shows in, I think, two years), any Jon Langford show is still a helluva time. This CMJ show, with Sally Timms, violinist Jean Cook, and Bill Anderson from the Meat Purveyors, should be, as our friend Borat might say, "Ni-ice" (I'm hip to what the kids are digging). And it'll only cost you the one-drink minimum and whatever you want to put in the tip bucket. I also recommend ordering the zucchini fries while you're there. It's all the fun of eating french fries with the added bonus that you're actually eating a vegetable.

11/4 (afternoon) CMJ Bloodshot BBQ with the Meat Purveyors, Bobby Bare Jr., Scott H. Biram, Deadstring Brothers, The Silos, Mark Pickerel, and the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY)

It's the annual Bloodshot Records shindig, and it's also the final performance of the Meat Purveyors, a fine band with one album I really love ("All Relationships Are Doomed To Fail"), one I like quite a bit ("Pain By Numbers", one that I haven't listened to much yet but may have the title of the year ("Someday Soon Things Will Be Much Worse!"), and a few I never got around to buying. Throw in Bobby Bare Jr. and the Deadstring Brothers (and some other bands of varying goodness) and you've got the best $10 show you'll find all year. Plus you get free food. And maybe the really big dog that's at Union Pool every BBQ will be there, too. So go support Bloodshot Records, my favorite all-time record label. In a CMJ festival full of shows with bands that maintain a safe, eerie distance from the audience, the Bloodshot BBQ is a bona fide, unironic party. Come on down.

11/4 (night)--Maybe Pete/La Dolce Vita (feat. Michael Imperioli [Christopher] from The Sopranos), (Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ)

Look, I don't know what else I can do to get you to see Maybe Pete. I beg, I plead, I describe a week on the road with them, I give you pictures...I'm at a loss. OK, how about I throw in the added attraction of seeing Christopher Moltisanti in a rock band? All for $8. Is that enough? Do you want me to pay for your ticket? OK, I'll do it. Just go. You'll hear a quantagious (spelling clarified by Mr. McGrath) rock band, ogle a TV star and make him uncomfortable, and see if Frankie can contain himself from doing his Silvio Dante impression in front of a real live Soprano. It's a can't-miss.

What I Liked About October

*Baby's first Renaissance Festival, Annapolis, MD
*The games the Mets won and the games the Yankees lost
*The birth of Wesley David Chambala
*Apple cider donuts from the farmers' market at the World Trade Center




*"Vas o No Vas"
*The Chocolate with White Polka Dots cupcake at the Flying Monkey, Philadelphia, PA
*George Jones and Kris Kristofferson at Carnegie Hall, NYC
*Artie Lange kissing Blue Iris




*Marah at the Underground, Philadelphia, PA
*MTV's "True Life: I'm a Staten Island Girl"
*Anthony Iaffaldano's entry into the World of the Engaged
*The willingness of people with cars to drive me places