So Wednesday night's Stanley Cup Game 7 was the last sports game I'm going to really care about--not including the Gold Cup--until the EPL starts up again. I think that's in August before college football (I'm not banking on any NFL preseason and I'd only care about that if there were a training camp that I could follow and see how the younger guys were doing in a game situation. I hate you NFL. I hate you so much.)
Game 7 was awesome, like all the rest of the NHL playoffs. You had the national anthems being sung and that big mulleted Canadian singer dude doing the old 'let's let the crowd sing this one' gag that was kinda cool the first time but this time it's pretty lame how he's just hanging out down there on the ice and basking in everyone else singing. Skip to 19 seconds for the douche chill.
Welp, Vancouver lost 4-0 and 4-3 in the series. Luongo was garbage enough to completely overshadow how garbage the Sedin twins were.
So what was there to do for Vancouverians? Riot. Let's burn our city to the ground because we lost a hockey game.That always ends well.
THIS..IS..VANCOUVAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
I get that hockey is Canada's game. Really, I do.
But rioting is not like you, Canada. It's not a hockey thing to do. You act like a man and get on with it.
Write your own caption contest!
Some of these rioting pictures were awesome. I'm going to put one of them up and let you all write your own caption. The winner will be mentioned in an individual post and I'll even write a haiku about you in some form. All the entries will be in the comments below. Have fun, ya hosers!
This past Wednesday, in the wee hours of the morning, a group of brave Richmonders embarked on a road trip to one of the country's largest music festivals: Bonnaroo. Blessed with a killer campsite complete with shade (gasp!) and close proximity to the festival grounds, all were ready for a weekend filled with a memorable musical medley. The festival itself was dusty, hot and HUGE, but as far as music goes, it was an embarrassment of riches. While I know my fellow campers will have their own picks, here are my choices for the best performances I saw.
Freelance Whales
1. Freelance Whales - This crew put on a fantastic show - they are the little band that could. They had an endearing sense of appreciation for the audience and the opportunity to play at Bonnaroo and really delivered. Highlights included the well known (thanks to a Starbucks commercial) "Generator First Floor," and "Starring" and ending the set with "Generator Second Floor." Their simultaneously ethereal and uplifting sound has stuck with me the most and as a result this is the band I'm most excited to go see again.
2. Arcade Fire - Forgive me for my hippie language - but this was totally epic. The whole performance was a tour de force, the seven band members pounded out their songs with endless energy and purpose. The final three songs were the highlight for me. The closing trio began with a rousing "Rebellion (Lies)" followed by a truly moving delivery of "Wake Up." It really struck me in that moment that a huge crowd (80,000 just at this show, the festival reported) were all together for a positive purpose, just enjoying the music. Looking out over the silhouettes of people back lit by the stage lights with this anthem bellowing from the stage was truly beautiful. See the first minute of the video above to get an idea of what I mean. They wrapped the show up with a joyful rendition of "Sprawl II."
3. Ray LaMontagne - This was the third time I saw him and he continues to give stellar, tight performances with a mixture of both old and new favorites. He spiced it up with a few covers including one from Merle Haggard, which made seeing him a third time more interesting. His voice on "Repo Man" and "God Willing" really exhibited his pipes and proved they can carry more than just a raspy barnyard tune, but truly be a soulful vocal presence. Much credit also goes to his "Pariah Dogs" band, who compliment his voice with atmosphere-setting features like the pedal steel guitar.
4. Mumford & Sons - Truly a Cinderella story from their last Bonnaroo to this one. This band acknowledged the role the festival had played in their success and they proved that all of it was deserved. If you haven't listened to them yet, I don't know what's wrong with you - but check out one of their hits. Also probably the dreamiest band ever, a sentiment echoed by every girl I was there with.
5. Robyn - You may think you've never heard of her, but you have! The two-hit wonder circa 1998 ("Show Me Love", anyone?) has come back as a dance pop goddess. I got to hear my two favorites "Dancing on My Own" & "Hang With Me" so I was a happy camper.
Runners-up: Black Keys - and put on a great show full of energy and excitement. Eminem also brought his all to his first live performance since returning from rehab and putting out the Recovery album.
Also seen: Explosions in the Sky, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lil Wayne, Girl Talk, The Walkmen, Bassnectar, Scissor Sisters.
Wish I'd seen: Pretty Lights. I heard nothing but raves about this performance. It was the first night of the festival and I was so tired I couldn't stay up for the 2 AM show, but I definitely wish I had.
All in all a great experience for music lovers with eclectic taste, it seems the festival has taken its reputation for being a jam band fest to representing multiple genres. While the musical spectrum has broadened, the event is still predominately populated by "hippies." I was happy to join them.
Did everyone see the pictures of Snooki that came out this week after her accident? I'll throw one up just to be sure.
Snooki to self in mirror after putting this look together: "Short shorts, fur boots and neckbrace....NAILED IT!"
Ridiculous sunglasses, fur boots and short shorts aside, the neck brace really does make Snooki's head look like it's floating and not part of her body. I can't wait to see her running around Italy with that thing on.
And there it is. The Shore has me again.
Toward the end of last season, I was done. Ronnie and Sammi constantly bickered and had run the show into the ground, making the show damn near unwatchable. But stuff like this neck brace is why we keep coming back to the Jersey Shore. It's ridiculous. It's funny and the characters are mostly likable.
I think MTV realized that they dragged us through a nearly unbearable sequence of fights between Ronnie and Sammi last year. Those were only entertaining if Ron Ron ended up sobbing afterwards.
That was brutal. It got a little frightening because in a few of those fights you ended up wondering if there was going to be any physical violence against Sammi. Ronnie wasn't the master of self control and she kept on getting into his face and yelling at him. I guess those fights are what we get for Ron being really entertaining in Miami by hooking up with tons of girls while being hammered (high?) and making Sammi think it was all her fault. It was an evil genius move.
From the photos that have been released and the other stories I've heard, this show is going to be insane and not insanely . Snooki crashes her car into a cop car. Deena almost fell off a bridge into the River Arno. And finally, what we've all been waiting for, Sitch got his ass beat by Ron Ron.
Despite being mauled, Sitch still lifted up his shirt to show his abs to photographers.
This is why the Jersey Shore fans keep coming back: it's all ridiculous. It's insanely entertaining in just being mindless fun and that's what they got away from last season.
That being said, Ron Ron and Sammi are both in Italy. I don't know their current relationship status. I don't know if they can be friendly (how could you be friendly after all that?). I certainly think that living in the same house would be the best....erm.....situation.
An interesting thing that a friend brought up: what if someone gets deported? You know the Italian government is itching to get the Jersey Shore cast out as soon as possible. If Sammi or Ronnie gets into a fight into public, I could imagine some trumped up charges that would result in deportation.
