DarkroomDad

The cliche of epic rock shows is a dwindling and almost non-existent experience these days. If it weren’t for Bands like Kings of Leon and the SilverSun Pickups, our world would be a quiet and moreose place. I was lucky enough to have caught SSPU for their penultimate show on a two year touring stint. This show was especially interesting as it was the first time SSPU headlined the Fillmore - so they were as excited as the crowd was!

They put on a great show that left my good friend stunned like he was the first time he saw the Smashing Pumpkins.

There are few bands I would rather see at the moment - other than the Cult, Queens of the Stoneage or kings of leon - and the Fillmore is in the top 5 venues I have been to. If you haven’t yet seen (or at least listened to) this band, you should. SSPU has the right stuff and they definietely have my attention.

If you have not yet seen Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk, please stop whatever you’re doing and watch it *now*. It will open your mind and give you reason for pause. I have never been an incredibly gifted creator. I thnk of myself as generally intelligent but I can say for certain that I have more or less lost my creative spark. I also know I have had few (if any) truly creative - e.g., entirely original - ideas in my life. In fact, I would venture to guess that is a fact of life for the majority of the world’s population. I think there may be a reason for this and so does Sir Ken Robinson. In this video from the TED meetings in Monterey (a very interesting annual “thinkers” gathering), Sir Robinson makes profoundly moving case for creating an education system that fosters creativity, rather than “teaching” it out. Robinson points out the many ways our schools fail to recognize — much less cultivate — the talents of many brilliant people. “We are educating people out of their creativity,” Robinson says.

I tend to agree with Sir Robinson and am personally working on allowing, and encouraging my kids to continue to create without boundaries for now. If the square is not quite right, who really cares, it’s all creative energy that is building brain power and cognitive ability. The details of correct shapes all the way to art history will become clear over time. For now, let there be ART and make your kids (and yourself) SMART!

What an epic show! I was lucky enough to have been in Austin on May 9th, 2007 when Kings of Leon were playing Stubbs BBQ. What a great venue and amazing band. They put on a great show before being forced to cut the set short because of pending thunder storms. My Step-Dad Lonny and I (and a collegue Navendu) were stoked to be there for this event and made the most of it. We got there early in the 100 degree heat and waited in line to get an upfront position. 30 minutes after show ended the skies opened up and pounded the City with a heavy, dense rain for about an hour…it was a great close on a killer evening.

There are few bands I would rather see at the moment - other than the Cult, Queens of the Stoneage or Siversun Pickups - and Stubb’s is in the top 5 venues I have been to. Hearing “Arizona” live was incredible - this band has the right stuff and they definietely have my attention.

Ok - I think I have to say it, Myth is hands down one of the best restaraunts in the country, if not the world. On all fronts, service, ambience, cuisine, winelist, and price, it gets top marks.

Heather and I have been coming to this establishment for more than 2 years now and only the very first experience (the restaraunt’s first month of business) did we have one less than stellar comment. The kitchen was a bit behind - otherwise, flawless. The cauliflower soup is sublime, rich but light at the same time. Each pasta course is a winner but the Gnochi and the Rigatoni with Foie Gras cream are unbeatable. The scallops were amazing - probably best I have had, and the Kobe Beef burger was stellar. The desserts are good bu not great, but I am usually so full with the wonderful meal that dessert is an afterthought! Ask for David too - he is the best in the house.