Chinese Week in Arizona
February 13, 2011
An Alexander
I'm mildly disgusted by Chinese stereotypes in Arizona--only mildly, but enough to trigger me into writing an entry. Hence, I have a few things to say:



1) The whole gathering-together-in-the-Chinese-market-area-to-boost-sales shindig that went down today worked. Not in my advantage, however. Only my biweekly grocery run, I was coaxed into buying a $5 parking pass to place my car anywhere near the Chinese market near my house. When I got there, it was packed full of anyone other than Asian, trying to indulge in cheap Made-in-China goods, rice hats, and traditional Chinese clothing. I just needed some groceries...

2) We entered a Chinese Go (traditional board game) room, only to find a few obese, Caucasian men staring us down, wanting a battle. They thought we came to compete with them in this event's "competition." Wait a second--how do they know how to play Chinese Go? I barely know how to play. My friend straight-up from Taiwan doesn't even know how to play.

3) The supermarket was packed. They probably made enough money to keep them in business (so THAT's how they keep in business!)

4) Sold rice hats like it was a Dodgers' cap at a Dodgers' game. I can't take that seriously...

5) Some guy was selling traditional Chinese clothing... except he wasn't Chinese. My friend pointed out that he probably had no idea he was wearing a dead person or ghost's outfit/hat.

6) Amidst all of this crisis, there were few Asians to be accounted for.

I guess it was a nice way to show Arizonians who Chinese people are, but it really just reinforced the stereotype. It told them that we are cheap (selling $1-3 made-in-China goods), our people wear traditional vests and dresses, and that we eat orange chicken. What's safer than to prescribe the same medicine, right?

At least the supermarket and restaurants came up on top this weekend...
187 - Led Zeppelin 2 @ Slim's 2011
February 10, 2011
Coco

My friend said, "Hey, you finally going to a band we ever heard of ". Actually, I don't really care  if the band that I am going to see famous or not. Sometimes I even feeling happier if they are not, because that means it won't be crowded. I usually do some studies before go to the concert but not for this one. I went to Slim's when it's about show time. I found things are weird, the stage is small, ticket is cheap and my NEX-5 has no problem to get in. Then I found out it's a tribute band (cover band), not the original one. 。
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。 I have never been to Slim's before. Am I afraid of going to a new place? Of course I do, especially by myself. But I always make myself go though, because I knew I would feel good afterward. Not just because I made things happen also growing my own territory in the city. 。 This is a nice place, and very close to the style I like, not as posh as Regency Ball room and not as big as Warfield. To be more specific, I like a place not too big then I can stand in the front and get very close to the band members. A place has a garage looking to match the rock music style I like. 。 。 Led Zeppelin is an English rock band formed in 1968. They are regularly cited as one of the progenitors of Heavy Metal hard Rock. More than thirty years after disbanding following Bonham's (drummer) death in 1980. Rolling stone magazine has described Led Zeppelin as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the '70s" and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history"

Heavy metal :  (often referred to simply as metal), developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s,  developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness.

Hard rock (or heavy rock) : is a loosely defined genre of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage Rock and Blues Rock. It is typified by a heavy use of distorted electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, and often accompanied with keyboards.

Original Led Zeppelin continue to be held in high regard for their artistic achievements, commercial success, and broad influence. The band have sold over 300 million albums worldwide, including 111.5 million certified units in the United States, making them one of the world's best-selling music artists of all time, as well as the 2nd best selling band of all time in the United States, behind The Beatles。 。 。 Led zeppelin2, the tribute band come from Chicago, IL. with member bassist Chris Klein, drummer Ian Lee, guitarist Paul Kamp and vocalist Bruce Lamont.

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Lead singer Bruce had the crowd pumping the entire night, and so did guitar player Paul. I especially like the performing he had with a double neck Gibson.

Chris Klein doesn't seem very excited for whole show。

I was at very front with lots of younger girls. I tried to pretend that I am as young as them and rock like a teen. It was fun. They must be supper fans of the band. They can almost sing every songs. I kept hearing them said "It's my song". The girl next to me is the most excited one. She got out the lighter and light up. I wanted to ask is it how people do in the old days? Then I think who cares, it just look so cool and I took a picture of it. 。

Yes, I have been standing right below this sexy stomach whole night. I know you are all feeling jealous now. I did drool a lot, to be honest....

Then “Kashmir” the song I like the most. I have been waiting for almost whole night. And finally it came. As the music started I found the tears influx into my eyes. It's so beautiful and it's what was lacking in life. I quick snap on the video button and start recording. Maybe I was been too emotional, I stop the recording by accident, that's a shame ...

My arms were so sore by holding my camera up for so long. As I don't know many songs and don't know which one is good for recording. I record whenever people scream really loud at the beginning of the song. But tonight, people scream on almost every single songs.....

The crowed tonight covered all ago range. It's always nice to see people around my age and meet people I can talk to. That's the problem in a heavy metal Rock, people seems very different.

。 I like the performing a lot from tonight. Led Zeppelin2 took everything, the show, the music, the actual character performances from Led Zeppelin and recreated it. They’re bringing Zeppelin to a stage for a whole new generation of people. I would like to see the original Zeppelin, but since I never will, Led Zeppelin2 is by far and away the next best thing. I honestly cannot say enough great things about the band.

The drummer gave me one drum stick after the performing. I am so lucky, but at the same time I feel sorry that I am not a real fan who can sing almost all their songs. But I do rock really hard and been a responsible camera man for whole night. I like the feeling that I did well with my best. 。 What am I going to with one drum stick? hmmm, I don't know. But I am so proud that I got it. 。

With the purchase of Sony ECMSST1 MIC to attach to my NEX-5, I expect the sound recording can be improved a lot. But it doesn't seem making whole a lot of different. When I am too close the sauce of loud sound, it still get distorted. Maybe I need to check with firmware or do something to make it better

Led Zeppelin2 @ San Francisco - 1。 Led Zeppelin2 @ San Francisco - 2。 Led Zeppelin2 @ San Francisco - 3。 Led Zeppelin2 @ San Francisco - 4

Stefan - October to December 2010
February 9, 2011
Christian and Qi
186 - Motörhead @ Warfield 2011
February 3, 2011
Coco

The performing last night from Motörhead at Warfield was a mind-blowing. People went wild and crazy. Yes, they are limeys and they got good style of Rock. Although I am the beginner of the rock music but if my ears like then that must be a good one or very close to a good one.

That was the first heavy metal concert I attend. Friends were worried that a little girl like me go to a heavy metal concert by myself. I didn't have fear as usual. Maybe because the only thing in my mind was that  I gotta check this heavy metal out. And maybe I will get to know why it draw so much attention from me even just listen from the CDs.

I got the ticket pretty late, I didn't have choices for a good seat, even the general admission (main floor) were all sold out. I just take whatever was available. Here was my seat on the back of the balcony. It took me a long time to find my seat because it was buried by two big Harley motorcycle kind of looking guys. Damn, Do I really have to sit between them? It brought up the experience that I had in The Florence Bar...as I didn't have plan B in mind, I sat down.... It's didn't take long for things to happen, "Can I have your phone number? or I could give you my phone number? You are cute, I like to take you out, I have got a motorcycle you know..... I do know and I guess a lot of people here got one too. I decided to move to another empty seat and think just have to move when someone want it back. Here I was in the happy front middle balcony. Lots of people decided to go down to the main floor to have more fun that's why expensive seats are open.

Motörhead is a British rock band formed in 1975.  The band is considered a precursor to one of the earliest members of the New Wave British Heavy Metal ( Heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s).  Motörhead are typically classified as heavy metal, and their fusion of Punk Rock  into the genre helped to pioneer Speed Metal and Thrash Metal. Motörhead's lyrics typically cover such topics as war, good versus evil, abuse of power, promiscuous sex, substance abuse, and "life on the road"。

The band's distinctive fanged-face logo, with its oversized boar's horns, chains, and spikes, was created by artist Joe Petagno in 1977 for the cover of the "Motörhead" album and has appeared in many variations on covers of ensuing albums.  I like it very much and I think it matched the band name very well. 。 。
。 It's about time for Motörhead, the theater start getting really full, especially on the main floor. I was happy that I wasn't down there. It's safe to be at balcony and also got great view of the stage. If you ever went to a rock concert you would know what I am talking about. I thought "Melvins @ GAMH" is crazy enough. This is really eye-opening for sure. I constantly seeing crazy people being carrying out to the security by crowd surfing. And I have never seen so many securities in a concert. Camera was prohibited for the concert. I don't really have any photos and even difficult to find any on line. I was amazed by how much power a 3 people's band could generate. Well how many people in the band is not really important but the characteristic the band has. "No Age" from LA is a two people Indie Rock band, but they definitely capable enough to rock people crazy. 。

There are so much to learn about Rock music, not just because of the history generate so many different kind of types but also the different regions interpretation rock in different way. I have been reading about it for whole afternoon but still can't get things clear, I might need to take some lessons.。 I really like the drummer was sitting at very much higher platform. Maybe there was a reason to do so but the drummer should be a real soul for a Rock band and it should get more attention. Close to the program ending, A solo from drummer Mikkey Dee was really powerful and it makes Mikkey Dee the best drummer in my mind. although he is already 47 ..

For some reason the music style I like is getting heavier and heavier. To have powerful sound pounding into my ear is a big pleasure to me now. After move to San Francisco, I got to contact all kinds of music that I have never experienced where I lived before. I found myself getting lots of influence from music and I think that can be the thing to fill up the empty space in mind if there was one. It's cool concert and I am glad that I went.

Video / Killed by death from concert 。 < >。
Video / The game / a song I like very much from them 。 < >

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185 - Free Energy @ The Independent
January 30, 2011
Coco

I didn't attend too many of concerts when I was in Taiwan. There were not many and a lot of them are not my cup of tea. Most of them are from those POP stars who sing most cheesy songs and maybe can't sing well in live. Maybe because there were not many concerts, once there was one people just got so crazy. So many people in the concert, I couldn't get to see anything even when I was there. 。

 I have been attending many different kind of concerts since I move to San Francisco 2 months ago. It has been an eye-open experience to me. I like live music and I can say more than anything else in my current life. I see the difference and feel differently between performing by different bands, performing place and concert size. I like the lift much better after sunset now. 。

I enjoy the small size of live performing in the bar because they are the most nature and I can feel the performer just right in front of me with no distance. No matter mentally or physically. Because they are so real without any packaging, it makes me feel lot about them with real feelings as well. 。

。 The Independent just right on the corner where I live. It's a medium-sized of concert hall. I think it's my favorite place to see performing. Not just because it's easy to get to but also the sound and light effect are very good most of time. The strange thing is that they never have something really noise or crazy. That's the character of this concert hall, there is nothing wrong about it, I guess.

"Free Energy" is the band for tonight. I didn't know them, but I listen to their work before I buy the ticket. They are an American Rock band from Philadelphia. The members include Scott Wells, Paul Sprangers, Evan Wells, Geoff Bucknum, and Nick Shuminksy.

I do like the performing a lot. I just like how these 5 people work together and how the connections between each other. You can tell they are really practice a lot together. You can see the different character between members but they merge into a atmosphere the band distributed.

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I almost forgot how much important the figure and style for a star. For those concerts I have seen recently, most of rock stars seem don't care how they look like. They wear old T shirts, been fat, bad hair do. To see Scott (Signer) here, I just want to say he is charming and draw attention. I can't get my eye out of him thought I never like skinning guy.

The light effect was very good tonight. I think it's the best light effect I have seen in The Independent. I also feel it match the concert style very well and not over. 。

They keep calling "San Francisco", I like that because they care who they are signing to. I like to be a part of San Francisco, just to be cared 。

We got 3 encore songs tonight. This has never happened in any other concerts I went to. It doesn't make me feel they are cheap but they care their fans and their career。

 I remember 2 weeks ago Melvines at GAMH, the theater was full of people, shouting and not leaving after the last song. But their staff came and pick up all the instruments right the way. I found that they don't really show any respect and care. They are more famous but so what ?。

I took some video, the images were really good. Just need to fix the sound quality. Hope I will get a better sound with cute Sony MIC in the future. 。

Free Energy-01 @ San Francisco 2011。 Free Energy-02 @ San Francisco2011。 Free Energy-03 @ San Francisco2011。 Free Energy-04 @ San Francisco 2011。

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