NIN Concert in Detroit - Oct 2018

So I saw NIN for the second time in Detroit. I only went because my girl hasn't seen them ever and they are in her favorite bands list. They did something different to keep the tickets from bots and scalpers. You had to physically go to the venue a couple months ago and buy the ticket. Then you come back and see the show. (LIKE THE GOOD OL DAYS!) In actuality, I kinda liked this system. Yeah it was a pain to get up at 3-4 in the morning and go buy the ticket, but I used to do that same thing when I was a kid. I'd stand outside Warehouse Records in Mt. Pleasant (RIP) and line up for tickets to a show. You could pick you seat and found happiness. So this was similar and it kept it going to the real fans. Of course you are going to get people buying extras and scalping them. Assholes abound in this world. What you gonna do?

I saw them live in 2014 I think it was. They played a lot of the more later albums. But this show the majority was PRETTY HATE MACHINE and BROKEN. A couple from this album and that, and four new ones. But nothing off the later albums really. The stage was stripped down, no screens. Lights and smoke. It was a rockin' good time. 

I'm showing you folks some of my pics and then pics from the Detroit Newspaper, as they got MUCH closer than I. So enjoy these. They played at the Fox theatre... which is GORGEOUS! Here are my pics:

I'd say that this show tops the last time I saw them, for sure. I love those first two albums. While there were a couple songs that they've been playing on this tour that they didn't play the night I saw them, overall I'd say it was a killer time. And you know what? No assholes around us. Perhaps doing the tickets the way they did got it to the real fans who appreciated the show for what it should be. Of course there were loud, drunk arseholes... probably bought tickets from a scalper... but luckily they weren't around me and didn't dampen my experience. 

Concert retirement begins now for me? In a way, I hope so. I'm getting too old for this type of thing. My feet, back and ears hurt a bit. I've seen some great fucking shows in my days of concert going. Legendary performers. If this is indeed my last show ever, its a good one to go out on. 

But it will happen again. Maybe I'm still a bit too young to retire. We'll see. 

-T

DETROIT CHRISTMAS

Welcome back friends and loved ones!

Well after spending Christmas Eve with my boys we trekked down to Detroit to spend Christmas with family and friends. We had fun drinking, relaxing and it was sorely needed. These 50-60 hour work weeks kill me! But I'm back home now and getting my kids tomorrow. Two days of the holiday weekend with daddy! :)

Anyway, here are some pics of some of the stuff I got to do while in D-town:

This is Oakley. Family dog. A very precious friend who I played ball with while there. Look at that face!

I am a fan of a show called MAN VS FOOD and on one show, they showed these who coney dog places in Detroit that are fighting out about who has the better Coney Dog. American or Lafayette. I have always wanted to go find out for myself and I finally got to! 

Both places are DOWNTOWN Detroit. Don't look the bums in the eye!

On the wall in American Coney Island, Adam Richman from MAN V FOOD represents!

Busy at noon!

The waiters do a great balancing act with the dogs.

After eating at American Coney, we went next door to Lafayette, which was busy as fukkk! But we snuck in and got a table.

More balancing acts. Lafayette has magic of their own!

And the winner by knockout: LAFAYETTE! The American Coneys has a hard snap and the onions were great, but Lafayette's chili was better. The bun was softer. The meat in the dog tasted juicier. Plus the atmosphere of the place reminded me of a New York Deli. I recommend trying both places to get your own judgement, but among us three, Lafayette Dogs won unanimous!

While in D-town, I finally got to visit the DIA, Detroit Institute of Arts. Some great paintings there but I was mostly interested in the Greek and Roman items on display. 

Greek vases.

An old Drinking cup.

This was used to store and make wine.

An old coin depicting Alexander the Great.

Statue of Emperor Nero.

I loved this sculpture. So playful and innocent looking.

A Van Gogh. I tasted some of the yellow ochre myself. Dude had a great taste pallate!

Cannot remember the artist but damn what a rendering!

This one too. What a landscape!

Hmmm....

A Picasso sketch.

In the abstract. One word: ANGRY. Perfect description. And quite how I was feeling when I observed it.

Head of Augustus.

Another Van Gogh. They said that he never painted stills like this so the way to authenticate it was to see his fingerprint in it and compare it to another painting that had his fingerprint in it. Thus, there you have it. A rare still life Van Gogh.