Why Am I such A Freek?
I have a theory and those who now me have heard it before. But somehow I feel a need to share this with a broader audience. The theory goes something like this:

It's all genetics and genealogy. Status as a freek is really something that I couldn't avoid. Both my Fathers' and Mothers' ethnic heritage is German The sir name I got from my dad's side of the family is Bachmann; translated "dweller by the river". My mothers maiden name is Bachtel meaning "little river". Combine the two family trees/genetic sources and you get" Little Dweller by the River" - translate - Amphibious Midget. Now what I ask you could be freekier that an amphibious midget? The answer is nothing, nothing could be freekier...(unless of course he was also a clown..hmmm)..... 
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Posted by PunkAss at 3:27 PM

 
Ya, I know you think your Vanilla Ice action figure collection is cool, but my collection of Vic "Mel" Tayback hair nets have you beat...... 
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Posted by PunkAss at 1:17 PM

  Musical Milestone



IT"S DONE!! Under Adams debut five song ep Tabula Rasa is finally done! It's been a long time coming but was worth the wait. The final product is just f'ing great. A Million thanks to Brian Iacobucci and Bob Pascarella for making this happen. It's been a long four years since I last had this feeling and let me tell you there's just nothing like it.

Anyone interested in getting a copy shoot an email to UnderAdams@gmail.com with you name and mailing address and I'll get on out to you.

For your viewing pleasure, above are a couple of pics from our first show last Saturday Night at the Chit Chat Lounge in Haverhill MA...... 
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Posted by PunkAss at 2:53 PM

 
I'm sending you this post from Cramer Studios in Norwood MA as my band's CD is being mastered. God I love this shit!!! Everyone says HI! More later...... 
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Posted by PunkAss at 8:12 PM

  Train of Though
While driving to work this morning, the new Death Cab for Cutie song "Soul Meets Body" came on and it struck me that the intro reminded me of the immortal Cher classic "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" (now I'm REALLY showing my age). This in itself was strange enough; I mean where the hell did I pull this one out from? It's absolutely amazing the amount of fecal buildup in my cranium. So anyway, this got me thinking about the word Tramp. No one uses that word anymore really. Not that it was a great word or anything, but it has gone out of general usage. Then that got me to thinking; how do words not get passed on from generation to generation and what makes some words fall out of popular favor and others come into common usage? Help me folks, I need to know this!! 
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Posted by PunkAss at 9:19 AM

  Return of the Friday Shuffle
After a vacation in Vancouver, here is the Spin:

1. Tiny Vessels - Death Cab for Cutie
2. Breath Me - Sia
3. Spiral Circus - Porcupine Tree
4. Caffeine - Faith No More
5. All The Girls Hate Her - Tori Amos
6. Things Change - The Gathering
7. Original Sin - Tony Levin / Bill Bruford
8. What's Wrong is Everywhere - The Jealous Sound
9. Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
10. L'Via L'Viaquez - The Mars Volta 
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Posted by PunkAss at 8:42 AM

  $tarbucks
The end of an Era: Part Two:

It's not big secret that I'm a huge Starbucks junky. I can't make it more than a couple of days without a hot foamy beverage; were it not for my current financial state, I'd be making a daily visit. But recently, I've sensed a great disturbance in the Starbuck force. The local shop that I've been hanging out in every Saturday and Sunday morning for the past six years, recently went through a remodel. One might think " Great! Spruce the place up, replace sad furniture make it a nicer place to hang out". Well not so much. This shop used to be a coffee connection before Starbucks took it over so it had a really cool layout. There was a nice marble and copper bar to sit at and view the whole store, a cool tin ceiling, and artwork from local artists always on display. But the best part about this particular Starbucks was the awesome, funky fresh people who worked there. I knew them all, we shared in each others lives, and they way they treated customers was the best bar none. I often said that when new employees were being trained, they should have to work in Andover to learn how it's supposed to be done. Walking in there was like waking into Cheers for Norm and Cliffy. All of this is pretty much gone now. As the Starbucks corporation has grown, they've become so much more cold corporate and homogenized and with the remodel, so has my beloved Andover store. They hired a new manager who is super corporate and who apparently no one want to work for. Most of the folk that I've know for years who worked there have either quit or requested a transfer. The cool bar has been replaced by a cheezy one that faces a blank wall and makes it really hard to talk to anyone. All of the fantastic artwork has been replaced by generic pictures you can find ant any new Starbucks.

So I ask WHY! Do they somehow think this is going to make the store more profitable? I just don't get it. 
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Posted by PunkAss at 8:32 AM

  Back from Vacation & The End of an Era
Ahhhh, the first hours back at work after vacation. It is a joyous time . My week away from the world was quite nice. It started off with a trip to the Berkshires for my last cycling event of the year and ended with A trip to the studio to finish My band Under Adams' CD and a trip to the movies to see Serenity.

The Berkshires: End of an Era Part 1

This years Berkshires ride for MS was great. The weather was perfect and the sound of my front tire on pavement with the crisp fall air rushing past me as I screamed down a 48mph decent was close to a religious experience. To spite my sad mileage tally so far this year, I felt really good on the bike; well except for the last 10 miles or so, at this point it was very apparent to my knees that I had not in fact done as much training as last year and they started to complain a bit.

This was kind of a sad ride for me too. This is probably the last year we'll be doing this ride. AssMaster GuinAss and I got to talking over the weekend (as us men folk do sometimes) and decided that the rides we've been doing are getting kind of stale. So next year, No vineyard ride - no vineyard house, no Berkshires ride - no Berkshires house. Time to start some new traditions. This on top of the fact that Guin and I we the only ones from the team doing the 50 mile ride. Two years ago, we had a killer 7 man paceline going. Things are defiantly in flux. I guess I'll just wait and see what next year brings. I really hope we can pull the team back together.

Ok...back to work for me.....more later


 
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Posted by PunkAss at 10:21 AM