Two Random Things

Here we have a post sharing two random things on this quiet Sunday evening that have nothing to do with anything anyone other than I would ever care about.

First, I watched an episode of The Trogly’s Guitar Show on YouTube today and accidentally learned something about my first Gibson guitar. It was a Les Paul Deluxe but I never learned what year it was made. Deluxes date from the late 60’s to the mid 80’s (I think). I bought mine in 1987 and always assumed it was from the late 70’s, but I had not learned how to get the manufacture date for a Gibson guitar until after my Deluxe was stolen in 1990.

Thanks to Trogly’s I can narrow the date down a little. The guitar had a Gibson chainsaw case. From a description on the episode I watched it was a version two chainsaw case. Trogly told us that Gibson introduced the version two chainsaw case in 1978. Therefore my guitar (assuming the case I had was the original case) could not have been built prior to 1978. That knocks about 10 years off of the possible dates. Thanks, Trogly!

The second item of note: The anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is coming this week. That means Jen and I are in now entering our annual 9/11 remembrance period where we binge a shit load of documentaries. We’re watching the first of the season right now. Things have already been super heavy around here due to my father’s passing. Now it’s going to get heavier still.

I just felt the need to share all of that with the wider universe. You’re welcome.

True Crime Docs

My wife and I watched a true crime documentary on the Netflix today. I don’t remember what it was called.

I listen to a couple of true crime-ish podcasts regularly. It’s not my favorite genre but it will do in a pinch.

This one tonight has freaked me out. I mean, I know there are people out there who can be best described as evil, but the things this piece of shit did.

Hug your kids, folks. I mean it. Wow.

In happier news, I cooked chicken on the grill tonight and I didn’t ruin it! How cool is that? Jen said it was delicious. She’s so nice to me like that. I loves her lots. Hug your spouse or your significant other too because sometimes they will say nice things about your chicken.

9/11 Documentaries

Jen and I are sitting in the living room watching 9/11 documentaries.

Why?

I don’t know. It’s like misery porn. Why are we subjecting ourselves to this?

Sure, never forget and all but this is like self abuse. Not that we are shutting it off or anything. Not that we can even look away.

Triumph Doc

Triumph was the first band I ever saw in concert. I think it was early 1986 (maybe late 1985) at the Worcester Centrum. My Uncle Johnny took me. It would have been better had it been the other three piece band from Toronto, but this was pretty awesome anyway. It was only a couple of years after that show that they were gone. I thought I would be able to keep following the guitarist’s solo career but… well… it wasn’t very good, at least not at first, and he lost me. The other two guys came back after a while with a new guitar player and again… not that good. Better, but still not good enough for me. Also, the 80’s had become the 90’s by then and my tastes had changed. So maybe not bad, more like too late. Whatever.

When I listen back to them now some of it stands up. Some of it… not so much. They were a killer 70’s band that sat at the point where the 70’s morphed into the 80’s and at first they handled it, but the glossier and cheesier (and hairier) it got the less it worked. Even if it isn’t as good now as it was then, “Fight the Good Fight” is still one of the best rock songs ever written.

This documentary is made by the same team that made Rush Beyond the Lighted Stage which was fan-friggin’-tastic. My only complaint about that doc, and based on this trailer I’ll have the same complaint about this one, is the effin’ clown from the band Skid Row. I really don’t give the faintest shit about what that guy thinks about anything. Other than that… bring it on.

It’s debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival soon. This week, I think. The first showing is going to be in a drive in because of Covid and I don’t know about the rest of you, but that sounds absolutely awesome to me.

Also for Future Viewing

A Fairport Convention documentary…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtms24UBn08

A playlist of Fairport Convention stuff…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLWlqqAjRI0&list=PLYmt__mh4n4O6lwY4HDoPyLfmqJlvohUM

And by far the most important, a Fairport Convention TV gig from 1970 with the Full House lineup. It’s traditional style English folk crossed with speed metal. Or, the speed of speed metal at least.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQsMdKcXyRE

Horatio Nelson Jackson

My beautiful wife and I have pretty much checked out this weekend. I had a work issue come up Friday night, we went birthday present shopping yesterday, and went to a birthday party today. The rest of the weekend has been split between sleeping late and flaking out. It’s been heaven.

Right now we are watching a Ken Burns documentary on a guy named Horatio Nelson Jackson. Who the hell is that?

In 1903 he was in San Francisco and made a bet. Some one said, I bet you $50 you can’t drive an automobile from here to New York. Four days later, Jackson was on the road to New York.

Although there were no actual paved roads. There were also no maps. There were also no gas stations. There were also no auto mechanics. His car was basically a buggy with a little motor. How it got him across town, I’ll never know.

That didn’t stop this nut job from hitting the road though. We’ve got a half hour left in the show. Hopefully I will be able to post again later saying that his story ended in New York. We’ll see.

I have never seen a Ken Burns documentary that I didn’t seriously enjoy. This is no exception.

Thanks, Ken Burns!