Category: for fun

Last night I actually went and bought four CDs.  For those of you that know me, know that this rarely happens.  However, ever since I got my Citibank Rewards Credit Card, I keep accumulating points and then redeem the for Best Buy gift certificates.  So, I’m not really spending money to buy these CDs, since it’s really free money that I’d not normally have.  Plus I can then resell the CDs on Amazon.com and actually get money in my pocket without losing that much.

Now, the whole point of this tirade is to let everyone know what I bought.  It was the fact that I purchased CDs which I already had.  Granted, I hadn’t previously purchased these CDs, but it shows that if the band is truly good they will get their money (at least from me).  Hell, at least one of the CDs I would never have even heard of if it hadn’t been for downloading a song or two.

I still think the best way to actually get to know a band is to listen to them.  How else can you listen to a band without

a) going to a concert (and who goes to see the opening act?  plus it’s more expensive than a CD usually)
b) hearing it on the radio (oh wait, the radio sucks.  thankyou clearchannel)
c) hearing a commercial on the TV (granted, I’ve bought a few CDs because of this)
d) downloading music
e) sharing CDs with friends

For those of you in Chicago, and don’t have anything else to do Friday (tomorrow) night, you should come see Adam and the Go Comets with me and friends.  They’ll be at the Elbow Room and start around 11ish. 

So yeah, come out, and have a good time.

Where does everybody go to find new music? Obviously you can’t really listen to the radio to find “new” stuff, since they play the same things over and over (not to mention 90% is crap).  I’ve been visiting allmusic.com and amazon.com and following the links of what similiar people have bought.  This takes a lot of effort, so I was curious how others happen upon new stuff.

Much like Aaron Binford did with his CDs, I’m selling mine on amazon.com.  Since I’ve been using my Thank You Rewards to buy CDs, I’ve essentially been getting them free.

Now, selling CDs in and of itself isn’t normally a big deal, and there’s no way I’d be posting about it.  However, I have one cd that is apparantly quite collectable.  It appears as if my Tool – Salival box set isn’t being sold anymore, and people are marking them up slightly.  Hopefully it’ll sell!

Oh yeah, for things like this, I highly recommend using amazon.com.  They do take a little more out for them, but you get reimbursed for shipping and you get a ton of views.  I mean, not 10 minutes after I posted an item, it was sold.  There’s $90 in my pocket.  Plus, I undercut everyone else selling, so that may help too 🙂

**UPDATE**
Alright, someone actually bought the Salival CD for $90.  Talk about a sucker.  Man, there sure are moron’s out there.

Well, after playing the piano and a few other instruments, I’ve decided to finally learn how to play guitar.  This was actually spurred on by my boss.  The other day we were out eating lunch, and he asked me if I played.  I told him that I didn’t, but it has always been on my “to do” list.  Well, I need a good release lately, so I’ve decided a good time is now.  However, that still requires me to actually aquire a guitar.  I was talking to Aaron about guitars the other day, and he pointed out the Takamine GS330S.  To me, it’s all foreign, but through the reviews, it appears to be a good guitar.

So, Colleen and I went out to lunch the other day, and I mentioned that I was looking at getting a guitar.  Well, she has a guitar and it’s just sitting at her Mom or Dad’s place, so she offered to sell it.  It’s quite tempting, but like I said earlier, it depends on how much since I have no idea the difference between guitar A and guitar B.  Granted, this isn’t like me to not know the differences between something I’m going to buy.  I just really don’t have the time to actually find out the main differences, plus I’m just learning, so the best doesn’t really matter.  Just get me something I can play and I’ll be a happy camper.

Hopefully I get one or the other soon, since this phase my move out quickly.

Well, just got home from the Matt Nathanson concert at the Canopy Club.  For those of you who don’t know who Matt Nathanson is, go buy his CD.

When I first got there, I was disappointed that Matt Fish wouldn’t be accompanying him, but instead a full band.  After going to see Howie Day with a band, I wasn’t enthused.  However, I was more than amazed at this concert.  Matt is just an excellent entertainer.  Even if you aren’t a huge fan of his music, I’d still recommend going to see him live.  He’s hilarious and he knows how to entertain a crowd.  Be it jokes, pointing out people in the audience, playing covers, or just having a good time on stage, the man knows what he’s doing. 

Plus, I got to meet him after the show!  I happened to park on the street behind the Canopy Club on Oregon, and since Matt and crew were in a rush to get to Chicago for tomorrow nights show, he didn’t do his normal meet and greet in the lobby.  Instead, he just happened to be behind the Canopy Club next to my car.  Needless I needed to say hi.  There were a few other people back there (maybe 3 or 4), and they were all getting his autograph and having pictures taken.  Well, I didn’t have a camera, and I could care less about autographs.  However, I know that Colleen likes autographs (she has one from John Mayer), plus she wanted to come to the concert but couldn’t because of work.  Now, being the good guy that I am :coolsmile:, asked Matt for his autograph and to make it out to Colleen because she had to work and couldn’t make it to the show.  Matt wrote her a little note, and then signed it.  Now I just need to get it laminated for her.

Oh well, it’s late, I need to go to bed…

I always find it funny when I stumble across websites such as this.  I thought the best part was definitely the “Kids Corner” banner going down the side.  I don’t think I want to go on and ramble about my thoughts on the RIAA and the like.  It pretty much boils down to, they are trying to retain a business plan that doesn’t work anymore, in whatever ways possible.  Yeah, it sucks, and yeah, they’re more or less burying their heads in the sand, but it is their business and money to lose…