Suffering for Your Art

Tommy Keene's bloody guitar, Beat Kitchen, Chicago, Sept. 29. (Injury sustained at 400 Bar, Minneapolis, Sept. 28.)

The Nation Mourns

Don't shoot the messenger:

JOURNEY FORCED TO MAKE LEAD SINGER CHANGE ON NATIONWIDE TOUR

Jeff Scott Soto to assume JOURNEY lead singer duties starting on July 7th in Bristow, VA due to Steve Augeri throat infection

July 6, 2006 -- Due to a chronic throat infection, Journey’s lead singer, Steve Augeri, has been forced to leave the band’s current nationwide tour with Def Leppard. Jeff Scott Soto, who has previously performed with Journey guitarist Neal Schon, will assume the band’s lead singer duties starting with the July 7th show in Bristow, VA. Steve Augeri’s condition will be closely monitored by his physician to determine when he may be able to rejoin the tour.

According to Journey, “Steve’s been suffering with an acute throat condition since before we kicked off the tour with Def Leppard. We were hoping he’d be in well condition to handle the rigors of the road but unfortunately it appears to be a chronic condition requiring total voice rest. We all wish Steve a speedy recovery.”

For the latest tour dates, please visit www.journeymusic.com.

Just Passing Through

A non-triumphant semi-return to post a bunch of links:

My semi-coherent review of last week's stellar Tommy Keene and Townshend Research show at Schubas

Great photos of Keene and Pollard band from that show (the pic here is one of my lame ones)

Large-ass file of the Keene set (room-mic recording, sounds pretty good considering)

More amazing pics from the same photo of the top-notch Pollard Intonation set

YouTube clip of Pollard singing "Bobby O'Riley" with Pearl Jam

That is all. Enjoy.

Blah Blah Blahs

This is my 150th post. It could be the last. I have nothing to say and no inclination to say it.

I reserve the right to change my mind.

For the time being, a couple of interesting things:

Funny article from Jim Caple regarding Roger Clemens' latest "comeback" (in quotes because the douchebag never goes away). He's possibly the greatest pitcher of the modern era, but I hope he gets lit up this time around.

Great story from Jeff about his brush with a record-industry honcho. I consider Jeff a friend even though we don't know each other that well; what I can say about him is that (a) his blog is what mine aspired to be, as it's consistently engaging and (b) he's a good dude, despite being completely unrealistic with his fantasy trade demands.

UPDATE: I've been to two Cubs' games since the last post, one loss (the Barrett punch game) and one victory. Post-return-to-Chicago record: 24-27 (3-0 at Wrigley this year).

Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here

A quick recap of Chicago's weather yesterday (times approximate):

7:30 a.m till about 1 p.m.: partly sunny, about 68 degrees. Nice.

1 p.m.: slowly starts getting overcast

1:30 p.m.: raining like a mother

3 p.m.: clearing up, cooler but still nice

5 p.m.: clouding over

5:20 p.m.: light rain

5:25 p.m. heavier rain

5:30 pm. marble-sized HAIL pelting us at the bus stop

6 p.m. (en route to Wrigley): light rain

7 p.m.: very light rain, sun peeking through

7:55: beautiful, cool night, no more rain

Cubs win, 5-0.

Post-return-to-Chicago record: 23-26, edging toward .500

Barry Funny

You, too, can create a wacky greeting for Barry Bonds here. All two of you can post your URLs in the comments section.

On a more serious note, loyal reader JT discusses United 93 on his blog, The Sauerbrun Report. (Note: He says it's not a blog. I say it is, though maybe it's not, because there's no comments option. Oh, and that's the worst name for a blog -- though it does have a back story -- than Stosh. Tough to do.)

Anyway, his thoughts got me thinking...in the context of 9-11, which, of course, is likely impossible to ignore in relation to the film, the story is overwhelmingly emotional. However, if this were just a random fictional story about a flight being hijacked, one that had nothing at all to do with 9-11, would it be as powerful? Would we have people saying the film shouldn't be made? Of course not. Yet, because the incident the film is based on is directly related to 9-11, it somehow becomes this piece of art that has people wondering if they should even see it.

I don't really know what I'm saying here. I haven't seen the film yet (my wife is in the "too soon" crowd, but her resolve seems to be weakening). I just find it interesting that the film's context makes what would be a gripping, unemotional action movie into this controversial thing that many people won't check out on principle.

Loopy vs. the Red Baron

Erstwhile former Cub Rick Sutcliffe had a few with buddy Bill Murray the other night, then visited his old pals in the San Diego Padres' TV booth. Hilarity ensued.