This is a picture of my sneakers after seeing The Bouncing Souls at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn last weekend. It was my first live band experience post-40 and it was way super rad. But I also learned that my moshing days are pretty much done. I tried a bit during The Bronx’s set (another great band, loud and intense) and I just couldn’t hang anymore. I had a ton of fun hanging in the back with a bit of personal space, a beer in hand, raising my arms in the air and screaming/singing along.
Random Thought
I read that Nirvana’s, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” just broke 1 billion views on Youtube recently and it’s only the second video from the 90’s to break a billion (the first is GNR’s, “November Rain.” Props to the guy who dives into the cake). It’s such a weird timeline from the first time I saw that video on MTV (I was probably either 11 or 12) to now, 40 years old, watching one of my all time favorite bands still crush it all these years later on a form of media that could only be imagined in 1991 when the video first debuted on MTV. I kinda declared Nirvana the greatest band of all time when I was about 13 but it was still a thing that existed and I really didn’t have any idea that they would seem so important all these years later. You always wanna believe that the thing you were really into in your teen years makes a difference and is really important and I sorta feel validated for being a Nirvana fan by this moment.
I also feel kinda old I guess… not like super old, but I just know that my teenage years are a super long gone thing of the past. But it’s nice to know that my teenage years weren’t totally wasted on fads and pogs and people in my age bracket can hang our hats on something that sorta still seems cool (or is totally ridiculed by young people and I’m completely oblivious to it).
Movie I Watched Recently
Brittany Runs a Marathon
This movie is kinda cheesy but also kinda inspiring. I fancy myself a bit of a runner so it called out to me and I gave it a viewing. I got some serious flashbacks when Brittany first starts running. That shit’s so hard and awkward. But it’s also way fucking rewarding. So in a sense, it kinda lit a fire in me. I wanted to get my run on really bad after this movie (had to wait till the next day because it was like midnight when it was over).
It’s funny, sad, happy, and inspiring. It’s kinda got all the beats of a rom-com if the love interest is running and bettering yourself (although, SPOILER ALERT: there is a love interest in the movie as well). And I assume it’s somewhat based on a true story based on the pictures during the credits at the end of the movie.
If you’re looking to get inspired and laugh a bit along the way, give it a watch. If you’re looking for something serious that’s gonna make you question the existential fabric of reality, you should probably just go for a run.
TV shows I’m currently watching:
SNL
Eddie Murphy made a very triumphant return to host SNL. It was a really strong episode, front to back. The monologue is legendary. I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen to at least watch the monologue. It’s can’t miss TV, especially if you’re a comedy fan on any level.
There’s a ton of old Eddie Murphy characters from his early 80’s SNL run and they all crush. How amazing is that? We’re talking like 35 year old characters, crushing in 2019. It’s a lot of fun. They do a great job of building a show that is very Eddie-centric.
Weekend Update was absolutely crazy, the craziest I’ve seen in years. After the monologue, this is probably where I’d tell people to go next if they’re not gonna watch the whole thing. It was long and a lot happens and Che and Jost seem to be having fun the whole time.
Also, Lizzo killed it as the musical guest. What a great SNL.
Book I’m Currently Reading:
Thank You For Smoking
Just started it, like 16 pages in. I don’t have a lot to say but so far I like the pace and I think I’m gonna enjoy it.
Album(s) of the week:
Atmosphere / Whenever
Sometimes it feels like I blink my eyes and Atmosphere drops a new album. But that’s not true, it’s just that time’s moving fast and okay also maybe Atmosphere stays busier than a lot of other musical acts I love.
And I do love Atmosphere. I’m a huge fan. However, I’ve had a hard time getting into his last two albums (Fishing Blues and Mi Vida Local). I chalk a lot of it up to, it’s me, not him. He’s knee deep in family stuff and I’m still looking for the perfect song on the bar jukebox at last call on a week night. The last Atmosphere album I loved is, ‘Southsiders.’ ‘Whenever,’ is my favorite album since then.
I guess I’m always gonna pine for the lyrics and the style that made me fall in love with them and kept me captivated since my early to mid 20’s. But our favorite artists get older and have a right to let their music sound like it’s being created by older people. You can call it dad rap or hit me with an, “ok, boomer,” meme, but any artist or musical act that doesn’t let their music grow up with them is doomed (unless they’re AC/DC) and I appreciate Atmosphere for that and I totally look forward to going back and re-listening to the past few albums in 5 years and maybe maturing enough to be able to be a person who can enjoy those tracks more.
I got tix to see Atmosphere in a few weeks and I can tell you that I’ll always stay excited for Atmosphere shows live. Atmosphere got me through so much shit in my life. I’ve been sad and depressed to Atmosphere. But I’ve also done things like run to Atmosphere and blast Atmosphere on my way to comedy gigs to get myself psyched up. The music’s been there for good times and bad. I’ve grown up with Atmosphere to a certain extent and I’ll always remain grateful for that.
Random sports thought of the week:
I have not been keeping up with sports and I don’t know any specifics, but I guess the one thing I will say is, whoa the Warriors beat the Rockets on Christmas? That’s wild and it’s wild that I think that’s wild considering that the Warriors were the most dominant team for a few years and now it’s a shocker that they can defeat any quality team at all.
Random pro wrestling thought of the week:
Gonna give some love to the tag team, Heavy Machinery. These guys are great. They’re entertaining and funny and usually WWE does a bad job at funny but it feels okay to laugh when it’s these guys.
They’re not just funny though. They have an interesting move set and do some unique double team maneuvers. They’re also feel good baby faces which seems so hard to pull off in the modern era and keep it sincere, but so far they’ve been killing it on that front.
Otis is a star. Like, maybe he’ll never be the top champion, but as long as he’s able to do the worm and rub his belly and be silly backstage, I can’t see WWE ever letting this dude go.
Weekly Top 5 List: Top 5 Atmosphere Albums
1- Seven’s Travels
2- You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having
3- God Loves Ugly
4- Southsiders
5- When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
Motivational Quote:
“I know you're down to do something profound
Put a stick in the ground to prove you was around
No amount of time will ever be considered enough
I'm trying to tether it up and live forever through love
We're not lucky, but we're fortunate
I'm pretty sure of it
And all the life we wasted trying to make some bread
Might've been better spent trying to raise the dead.”
-Atmosphere (Fortunate)
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@joshaintfunny
Upcoming Shows
no comedy booked this week. Guess I’ll be busy with:
-girlfriend’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DANI!)
-a wedding
-New Year’s Eve