Subdivided We Stand Meets Marathon Man: Mish Mosh

Longtime Subdivided readers (both of you) will recall my nearly-poetic farewell to the geese of North Park last fall.

I have many possible routes that I can take to work -- several of which take me through the park. This morning, while driving past the skating rink, I noticed that the geese have returned. To which I think it's only fair to say:

Welcome back, shitbags.

Man, I hate those stinkin' geese. Pigeons may well be rats with wings, but at least their turds are tiny, and the next time a pigeon hisses at me will be the first.
-----
I'm sure I'll have much, MUCH more to say about this in the near future, but I recently got word from an acquaintance about an upcoming event that I'm pretty excited about.

If you're anywhere near my age, and have lived in Pittsburgh for any length of time, chances are that you remember WXXP, 100.7 -- the station that dared to be different. Pre-Nirvana alternative radio, with unprecedented (and unduplicated) support for local music. More about Double-X in the days to come...

But in the meantime, I've gotten wind of a WXXP-reunion show of sorts, to be held at The Rex on October 7. (That's 10-07, sort of in honor of the frequency I suppose.) Supposedly, most if not all of the jocks will be there, and a number of local acts from the era (including a total Affordable Floors reunion, the Sponges, 11th Hour, SPUDS and others) will perform an all-request show of favorite tunes from the Double-X playlist. I've already put in my requests for Scruffy the Cat, Peter Himmelman and Plimsouls.
-----
A couple of notable obits in the news. I wasn't aware of the passing of British comedian Dave Allen until I read Jason's fine tribute over on Tube City. I remember enjoying Allen's show, but in truth I can't remember much about it other than the between-sketch bits with Allen in his chair, smoking cigarettes and being funny.

Also, I invite all males who graduated from high school in roughly the 1979 - 1982 era to join me in a salute to the late Danny Joe Brown, better known as the lead singer for Molly Hatchet.

I've made fun of Hatchet from time to time, mainly because they're the type of band who, in 2005, should be relegated mainly to the "where are they now" file -- but classic rock radio refuses to let them die. Truth be told, though, there was a time when I thought Molly Hatchet was the pinnacle of what rock had to offer -- and in reality, they were certainly capable of churning out some decent, if derivative, southern boogie-style rock.

Forget the worn-out "Flirtin' With Disaster," and instead check out the Hatchet cover of the Allman's "Dreams I'll Never See." "Whiskey Man" and "Boogie No More" are also respectable songs that rise above Hatchet's tendencies to basically be a pale imitation of Skynyrd.

(And yes, I'm completely aware how badly the above few paragraphs date me.)

Anyway, my fellow 40-something males, let's all raise a nice warm cup of Goebel or National Bohemian or whatever cheap piss-water you were drinking at the time in memory of Danny Joe Brown. Or, as the man himself so memorably sang on Hatchet's greatest hit....

Mmmm bop bop yeahhhh!

Comments

Well, I can back up "the geese are back" comment. They have returned to our campus (aka work) in all their annoying glory. The other day not only did I have to listen to two of them squawk at me while walking past (and let me tell you, they did not sound pleased with me) but I had to avoid all their green turdage. Our campus is a wild life refuge, geese, wildcat, turkeys, deer and one time I even saw a coyote in the parking lot. I kid the readers not.

Posted by: Julie | March 16, 2005 at 01:07 PM

I second (third) you on the geese issue. We don't get them in southern CA, but last fall I was visiting my sister in Denver and took my niece to the local park. The grass had several resting geese on it, and the basket ball court was absolutely COVERED in goose turds.

It was hate at first sight.

Posted by: Dr A | March 16, 2005 at 10:47 PM