Here Comes Another Song About Mexico

If you only download one show from archive.org this year, make it last night’s Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers show at Vnuk’s Lounge in Cudahy, WI. Ahem, sorry. I’ve always wanted to start a post in the most clichéd possible way. But, seriously, last night’s RCPM show was friggin’ awesome. It’s actually left me a little worried. I’ve got two more shows in the next week and I honestly don’t know how they’re going to top last night’s. It wasn’t even ruined by this: Gotta love the Edens on a rainy Saturday evening... For starters (literally), Jason Boots opened. He had a cold and his guitar strap kept breaking, but he made up for it when Jim Dalton, PH Naffah, and Nick Scropos in an absolutely indefensible wig took the stage and they covered Young MC. Fortunately for all involved, I had my still somewhat new Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 compact digital camera on me. Seriously, if you’re in the market for a digital camera, I’d recommend the one I gots. Why? Because I recorded the song and it's quite high quality. This spot right here was supposed to hold said video. But after about three hours I gave up. Either the file is far too ginormous or Blogger's video upload sucks massive amounts of ass. I don't know, maybe I'll try to YouTube it tomorrow or something... And here it is: Either way, the Peacemakers' set was a murder’s row of awesome. I Do World Ain’t Gone Crazy I Don’t Need Another Thrill Down Together Trailer Park Beautiful Disaster Mexico Manana Fonder and Blonder European Swallow I Know You Know Una Soda (Should Justin ever actually put the show on archive you’ll hear a break here where Roger explains to the annoying dude who was yelling, “Colorblind Blues” that they can’t play it because of the lack of a certain guitar. That annoying guy? Me. I so want to hear “Colorblind Blues” live. Oh, and cut Justin some slack, people who I imagine are getting pissed that he hasn’t uploaded the show yet. He lives in Milwaukee, is going to grad school at Northwestern, and had to return home to a sick kid last night.) Tell Yer Mama Maybe We Should Fall in Love Buffalo Contraband Counterclockwise Americano Mekong Lemons More Bust-a-Move (Roger egged Boots in to a reprise). And it's on YouTube: Jack v. Jose (punctuated by someone handing up two shots of tequila and someone else handing up two shots of whiskey. Roger forced Jim to take a tequila and Jim forced Roger to take a whiskey. Roger downed the shot of whiskey and said, “Oh, that’s awful,” to which Jim replied, “Hey, I don’t say that about your drink.” Roger said, “You should…”) Wanted American Girl (I generally dislike Petty, but they do an awesome cover) Banditos Encore Break Nada (with Roger solo for the first two verses) Girly Yahoos and Triangles (better known as the King of the Hill theme) The thing about the Vnuk’s Lounge shows is that they’re always high energy and have a lot of good energy and banter. And, yes, this is the third time since last September that I’ve driven up to Milwaukee to see the Peacemakers. I consider Vnuk’s Lounge to be kind of like the Beat Kitchen north (kind of like Miller Park is really just Wrigley Field’s northern extension when the Cubs play on the road against the Brewers). It’s a small venue, but it’s a good place with nice people and I have entirely good memories of it (well, except for that one time the Beat Kitchen didn’t bring da noise or da funk for Sarah Peacock). So here’s some random thoughts: 1. My favorite part of the drive from Chicago to Milwaukee is a sign next to the highway somewhere around Kenosha that says “Bong Recreation Area.” 2. There’s a BP next to the highway a bit north of Kenosha that has a giant red scrolling sign thingy. I only saw four words as I drove past it: GOD BLESS AMERICA LIQUOR. I laughed out loud. 3. I shouldn’t be left to my own devices for extended periods. I decided that I’m spending Rogtober in WisClynesin. Seriously. That’s just sad. 4. Admit it, you’re super jealous: