Survivor Update - 3/10/11

Well it finally happened. Russell is done, defeated by Matt in a great battle on Redemption Island. Yup, gone... out of there... cannot return. And when he'd lost he cried like a baby, proving to me and the rest of the world that he's just a loser after all. No thank you's to Jeff, just harsh words for his teammates and anyone else he happened to think of. And all the while he kept calling different people idiots, what an ass.
Meanwhile the battle intensified as Boston Rob's tribe lost the next immunity challenge. In one of the least surprising votes ever, Kristina (see photo) was voted off, sent to Redemption Island to battle Matt next week. As usual, I can't believe the Ometepe tribe let Phillip stay in the game... the majority of his tribe is sick to death of this guy and truth be told watching him parade around in peach-colored tidy whities every week is my least favorite thing about Survivor.
Finally, hinting at some major power plays next week by Russell's former Zapatera alliance, Krista and Stephanie, we got to see some previews that led us to believe we're going to see some shocking moves. But after seeing Russell go away, I won't be shocked by anything for a while...

And the next day...

It's one of those vivid memories... and it happened the day after the DC5 was on Ed Sullivan back in '64. As many kids in my high school did, I walked the five blocks to downtown for lunch and saw several magazines that looked just like this picture on the rack in the Ben Franklin store. Every single teen magazine had this theme "Who is better... The Beatles or the Dave Clark Five?"
That may have been my first exposure to aggressive marketing. "How ridiculous, why can't these people just enjoy both band's music for what it is - great rock and roll?" I thought.
And as I walked back to school I remember thinking to myself "and of course the Beatles are better".

March 8, 1964 - The DC5 on Ed Sullivan

The second British Invasion band to invade the USA was the Dave Clark Five. Hot on the heels of knocking the Beatles out of #1 in England when "Glad All Over" replaced "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at the top of the British charts, the DC5 brought us the Tottenham Sound (the Beatles of course had given us the Mersey Sound).
With Mike Smith on lead vocals and Dave Clark on drums they went on to appear a record 18 times on Ed Sullivan and had a string of hits lasting through 1967. Refusing to adapt to the psychedelic music gaining popularity in '67, they faded from the U.S. charts... but not our hearts!

Elton John at the LaCrosse Center!

Yes! Elton John and his Band, Tuesday April 19th, 8:00 PM at the LaCrosse Center! This is called the "Greatest Hits Live" concert featuring number one chart hits and classic album tracks from throughout Elton's career! Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 14th at 11:00 AM. Tickets at ticketmaster.com and all ticketmaster outlets, the LaCrosse Center Box Office and charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

Survivor Update - Episode 3, 3/2/11

I'm still in shock today! Finally, Russell Hantz (see picture) got voted off! And he was blindsided by the type of treachery he's known for. Hilarious! His reaction actually made me laugh out loud! It was cool to watch Russell send his little minion Stephanie to enlist Julie to their alliance, and then believe that Julie fell for it. Russell - they did the same thing to you that you've done many times to others... live with it! So next week we'll see Russell square off against Matt on Redemption Island. And I'll be rooting for Matt all the way, hopefully we'll be rid of Russell Hantz on Survivor for good!
Editorial note - I think it's time Jeff Probst and the Survivor brain trust quit bringing players back from previous seasons. First it's not fair to the new players. Second, why can't we see the new players evolve without the onus of these has-beens? Sure Russell is an idiot and he's doomed to fail by virtue of his game, but right now Boston Rob is completely controlling the other tribe and I doubt they'd be playing the same game without him. By constantly plopping these guys back in the game, Survivor develops a sameness from season to season that I don't think is healthy for the show.

We interrupt 1964 to bring you Blue Cheer!

On March 2, 1968 a song was released that slightly changed and definitely expanded my musical tastes in the 60's. Summertime Blues by Blue Cheer roared up the charts and introduced us to metal rock and roll! Yep, before Steppenwolf, Cream, Led Zeppelin, these rock monsters from California billed themselves as the loudest band on the planet and destroyed eardrums with distortion, fuzz and unbelievaby thunderous drums. At times a trio, and at times a quartet, these rockers looked around at the hippies, love and peace of the day and kicked butt! Even though they only charted the one single, a series of great albums erupted from the band and paved the way for acid rock and heavy metal. I saw them live in 1969 and to this day remember it as one of the best concerts I'd ever seen! Cheers to Blue Cheer... they were one of a kind!

Holy Cow it's an invasion!

The Beatles not only "entered the house" by crossing the Atlantic and being successful in the United States... they left the door wide open. The third British album I purchased in 1964 was the first record by two lads named Peter and Gordon. They had a hit song moving up the charts in England "A World Without Love". As a matter of fact, in February it went to number one. And lo and behold, it started getting airplay in the U.S. in March before it was even released here, and talk about crazy - it was written by Lennon-McCartney!!
I remember thinking, "Hmmmm, what is going on in our rock and roll world!?!" Little did I know, my favorite radio era of all time had begun!