So on Friday I had a good time at the Bandits game. The Bandits won an important game and that all ways makes it better. The down side of that is they lost the next Night in NYC. That means they lost both games to the titans. That makes this final game with Boston very important. No matter what happens the Bandits are in the playoffs. If they Win they get the #1 seed in the east. Hopefully that happens and if that does I think that means we get Home Field for however many games we can win (2) until the championship game. I assume that the two teams who play for that the home field is decided by who has the best record but not sure. Now if the Bandits lose then things get tricky but they at least can become the 2nd place team. So this Saturday night is a big game. Before I get to the game pictures here are some I took before the game and yes some of them will be the Aud again.































Well here are some pictures from the Bandits Vs. the Knightshawks and some Bandettes pictures also.







































































































I should explain that if the Bandits win the game they do this victory lap where they run and some people pound on the glass I have even seen a player jump up and try to high five them, the person was leaning over the glass after either a playoff win or a the championship, buy the way security really frowns on that.

So first of all Sorry (e:strip) yes I have been reading but haven't had time to post. Well there are various reasons. Thursday of last week went to the Bisons game. Then on Friday I went to the Bandits Game. Then On Saturday Night I went to a concert. Then Sunday was Easter. Then in terms of using the internet I have myspace (blogs to read) then there is facebook (that is an addiction sometimes). The thing is linking a story from a site is so easy. It isn't that it is better then (e:strip) because it isn't but news sites are set up where you just push like one button and it shares it on facebook. Then of course I have pictures to upload and also to upload on to webshots. Not to mention I have TV shows I watch. Shows like Terminator, 24, and Dollhouse all have message boards I'm a part of. Plus there is the fact that I can't really do any of that stuff from work so I haven't had that much time really.

So on Thursday I went to Opening day and the bisons lost but I had a good time. Since I had the day off I thought I would take some pictures from the top of city hall, not sure how many I'm going to post but here are some of them at least.



















































































































Yes I did put up a couple pictures of the Aud coming down and Coca-Cola field. I think I wrote a blog about how things changed or changes or something like that last week (Hey I liked it at least). Here are a few pictures from the park not any sports ones though that in that case might be kinda dull.

So Many Blogs so Little time. Monday the bandits game pictures I guess and maybe the As Summer Dies pictures. For now the story of where music is at by me....... Yes I wrote every thing in the ""s just wanted to be different then my other blogs.

First of all I want to thank all the bands who performed on Saturday at The Tralf. It has been so long since I have seen a heavy show. I don't use the term metal for multiple reasons. The first is that when people hear metal they want to define what kind of metal a band is. I get why people do that. But just because a band thinks of its self as Death Metal doesn't mean they growl. Even if they do some bands some bands you can understand and some you can't. Another example is Hardcore is a sub type of metal but is it really I'm not sure. The other reason I use the term Heavy is that something can be heavy or sound tormented and not be what some would call metal. Is something Metal if the band becomes pop like say Linkin Park and Korn? But they are for sure heavy. What if a band has a heavy message but it plays the music softly, HA, joking. But there was a band from Buffalo called The Sheila Devine who where kinda like that. One minute Aaron would be signing then it was like a Yell and he was all red on stage. I miss that band I really do. Another quick example was The Tea Party, they where pretty dark and I think heavy in there way but they weren't metal. The other reason why I like to use the term Heavy is because metal has changed over time. For example when I was in High School you had all those "Hair Bands" (hate the term) or what might have been called "Glam". Yes some of that stuff was pretty good by how bands play now it wouldn't be metal. Ok back to the bands does anyone know the name of the last band that Performed they where pretty good and there where a few other bands I liked, ASD, His Name was Yesterday, and then two bands who's full name I didn't catch One's own Blood, and some band from Niagara Falls Something like in progression they where really good to. Again I want to thank everyone and want to encourage people to go out to shows and watch bands.

I'm not your sterotypical metalhead (I don't really think there are as many of them as people think). What I mean is there is this sterotype that people who like this kind of music are young kids, who want to rebel. That is true for some people but if so whats a better way then dance in a pit and get out agression more people should do it. People who listen to metal have no job and do drugs. Again I disagree with that I work and a lot of people who listen to Heavy music have jobs. If they didn't how would they buy shirts, CDs, and go to shows.

Do all must genres have sterotypes? Yes of course they do. It would be nice if we could blow up those little boxes. I admit that I like music that isn't heavy at all. Often though if you are seen wearing a band shirt people think that is the only thing you are into. Yes some people all they like is that genre. Ok back to those bands that might carry some negatives from others Coldplay, Transiberian Orchestra, Christina Agullera, and a few dance songs that I only know when I hear them. I like lots of different bands and Judge them by there sound not the genre. I wonder what the percentage of people who do this is vs. people who only like their genre of music.

I think that the barriers of how music is defined is slowly breaking down. Years ago country was country and pop was pop. But now there has been a lot of crossovers (won't name them) and some songs in the past have been written and performed as rock by one artist and country by someone else. You also have people who sing one way go over to country music like Darius Rucker from Hotie and the blowfish. I admit I have no idea what producers do but I know some of them now do what we would call "Pop" and "country" so the music styles are starting to blend. Heavy music and rap kinda blended some and I don't just mean Run DMC, Beastie Boys, and Kid Rock. When I first heard a Hardcore song oh so long ago (thanks cuse) I don't know who it was but it sounded kinda like rap but it wasn't.

I will admit that I don't read music reviews at all. The reason being is that saying one band sounds like another doesn't mean much. Music is to complex to say they have this part of this band and that part of that band. To know if you like it you need to hear it on CD, the web, or live in some form. A good example of this is I liked Metallica and Guns N' Roses but (if memory serves me right) a friend of mine (Bill if you are reading this correct me if I'm wrong) didn't like Guns because of Axels voice. I totaly get that. The point I was trying to make is how do you find out about new music and saying I don't use magazines. Well you have the radio stations, Music stations like music choice, then video stations that sometimes have more shows then videos like MTV (they have a bunch of stations and you can find music there) or even Fuze or some other station maybe. But the question is how do those bands get to that level. I have no idea other then by playing and touring and word of mouth.

That word of mouth is nice and everything. But I think where a lot of bands are now found out is through myspace (and other social networking sites also). I don't know if that is enough to be honest. Yes it is a good way to sell CDs and get your music out there. But I don't know if the big record companies are looking for bands through myspace or not. What is great about myspace though is that a band can request you as a friend you go and check them out and their songs play if you like them then you can friend them and if not just decline them. Plus then you can find out when they are playing or even buy stuff of there website. I'm not sure how well that really works. I think that this is going to be the wave of the future, but I could be wrong. I'm not sure how the buying of songs through myspace works but for bands who want they can do it or even just say they have the song on itunes, not sure how much of a cut either place gets they must get something I'm sure.

The other thing I like about music on the internet and not only myspace is I think it will help break down the Genre labels. The reason I say this is when you go into a store to buy music most places have it by type of music. It makes it quick to identify and to find what you are looking for. But see on the internet what type of music it is has no purpose. It isn't like if a band is pop you will go oh this is a pop band I'm not even going to listen to it, then just deny the friends request. That label isn't there so you will go check it out. I have gotten requests from bands that where great and other that I didn't like so I declined the one I didn't like (don't know who it was might have been some form of hip hop). This idea works as long as you only ad bands that you think you want to keep up with. If you ad to many bands it can be hard to keep up with them and all their music, so I admit there is a drawback. But see that is more of a drawback in the way the person use the website.

Well if anyone has made it to the bottom congrats. I feel like I had more to say but don't know how to say it, so I'll end it here.

So On Thursday I went to the Bisons Opening day game. There have been changes this year. The Team's park is now Coca-Cola Field. Yes it has changed names plenty of times in its 22 years or is that seasons not sure. I think this time that name is going to stay for some time. In triple A baseball they use the "Farm System" I don't know how it works completely but it is a feeding system where people can up a level or down a level from single A to the Major leagues. Well our Major league team changed it was the Cleveland Indians and now it is the New York Mets. That takes me back to the fact that I used to be a Mets fan so many Years ago. Back when they Had Dwight Gooding (how ever he spell his last name)who then latter became Doctor K and then on some baseball cards Doc replaced Dwight. That was kinda strange. Yes I was a Strawberry fan also. Yes they are going to bring him back to the ball park for a game, some kind of promotion. But here is where things get weird. I have seen him there before. Yes it was when he was having a tough time and the fans do that mocking thing where they hold a letter of his name like maybe the R in his first name. I wonder if he remembers that and is coming back anyways or if it was so common if that doesn't matter. The Mets have a mascot called Mr. Met . Since Mets is short for Metrapolitins (how ever it is spelled see why they never use that) Shouldn't he be like a building instead of a baseball? Any Mets fans have an answer for that? Does anyone remember if they had a mascot before that and if so who? I've been going to opening day for a Long time (22 years at least) and don't remember who was before Buster Bison if anyone. For some of you, you may remember that one year in High School we had to take one of those "non graded" tests at Grover. I brought in a note that I was taking the day off with lots of time and was told NO. So over at Grover the test was half over and there was a break so I left. And now you know why that school get no funding. I will admit I haven't seen every opening day. Some got moved or canceled but I have gone to everyone of them, since the new ball park. I know I went to games at the old rock pile but not sure about opening days. Some people (assuming you are still reading this horid run on block of words) may have ran track or played football at the stadium, well the one that took its place. I have gone there for a few things but don't think I ever ran there.

Before the bisons game. I went to look at the Old Aud being torn down. Yes I do that before each Bandits game also, and did so on Saturday. There have been some people who have written some great stuff about old memories and the like. Mine won't be great just reflective. Yes the oranges where scary, oh man How did I live through that. I bet that can cause a fear of heights. I have seen all kinds of things there. I know I saw Hockey Games there. I think I saw Metallica there (not sure though). Back when wrestling wasn't live every week I saw them film a bunch of Snake Pits. That was weird cause you couldn't hear what they where saying. But then later you got to see what was said on TV. I know I went to other events there also. I think at the time Filming Wrestling there, and Having Hulkamania running wild there was a big deal. So many times they would have a Main event and Hulk wouldn't wrestle in it. But that is how things where then and now things are so different. I'm not saying change is bad, it is not good or bad on its own. It is kinda sad that the AUD will gone and that no one could find a good use for it. But that being said then if you can't find a good use for it then maybe it should be gone. The one thing that was so nice was when you where in the good seats you really knew it. They where nice and soft and a better color. But that is what is better about HSBC Arena is that all the seats are the same if you are on the glass or by the cat walk.

I kinda lost my train of thought. This sounded a lot better when the thoughts hit me last night. So I guess my point is that things change. Yes the stuff in the past was cooler, yes those where the good times. But one still needs to see how things change and go with the things they like and don't go with the stuff they don't like.

So for those that don't Know the bisons open up on thurs and I will be there hoping it doesn't snow or rain. There are some changes like we are now the Mets farm team. I just wanted to share an article about beer that I thought some might like from the paper today, before this becomes a big time crime.

Guinness touts first new stout in United States in decades
By Emily Fredrix
ASSOCIATED PRESS


MILWAUKEE - The makers of Guinness are touting a new stout beer in the United States, a maltier, fizzier version of its older, creamier sibling, the world's best-selling stout. "This is more about refreshment and zing," said Guinness master brewer Fergal Murray, who created the new carbonated brew.

The limited-edition Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout celebrates Arthur Guinness' signing of a 9,000-year lease in 1759 at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, still the company's flagship brewery. When it arrives in U. S. bars and stores April 24, the anniversary brew will be the first new stout Guinness has exported to the U. S. since it brought over Guinness Draught in the mid 1960s.

Guinness Draught, first brewed after Arthur Guinness decided to stop making ales and start making porters in 1779, became synonymous with Ireland over the centuries. More than 1.8 billion pints are consumed in 150 countries each year.

The anniversary stout will be available only in the U. S., Australia and Singapore, according to Diageo PLC, owner of Guinness and the world's largest liquor producer. The company's other brands include Johnnie Walker and Baileys. The beer is expected to be available for about six months, said Patrick Hughes, brand director for Diageo Guinness USA. A big marketing campaign, complete with advertisements and promotions at bars, launches late this month.

"The brand is one of sort of strength, staying power and authenticity," Hughes said. "We think consumers are really going for brands with that strength and trusted authenticity."

They also want something new to taste, which this new beer delivers with carbonation, two types of malt and triple hops, Murray said.

Drinkers like to sit back and enjoy the flavor of Guinness Draught, he said, while the anniversary stout uses carbonation, rather than a combination of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which is used by Guinness Draught.

The result? More zing. The taste is different, too, although it retains the rich flavor of Guinness Draught. Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout also has more alcohol, at about 5 percent by volume, compared with 4.2 percent for Guinness Draught.

Pouring will be simpler, too. This anniversary stout is poured only one way, at an angle, in contrast to Guinness Draught's famous two-part process, which involves filling the glass about three-fourths of the way at an angle, letting the surge of foam settle, then pouring the rest.

The anniversary comes in a rocky year for Diageo. As the global recession deepens and consumer confidence remains low, the London-based company has been cutting costs and shedding jobs to protect its profits. In January, it said it may change or abandon $1.1 billion plans to reform production in Ireland and open a new state-of-the-art brewery.

Guinness accounts for about 70 percent of stout volume in the U. S., dominating a category that makes up less than 1 percent of total U. S. beer volume, according to research firm Nielsen Co.