Blast From The Past #4 - Teenage Fanclub

I have always enjoyed so-called "power pop" music. This type of music combines bubble-gum pop melodies of the '60's and '70's with the harder guitar sounds of today.

The Replacements, my favorite band of all-time, played this type of music, especially on their album "Tim," which they learned while growing up listening to Alex Chilton and Big Star. The early 1990's was a hey day for so-called "power pop," popularized by artists such as Matthew Sweet, The Lemonheads and The Plimsouls.

Nobody, however, perfected the power pop sound in the 1990's like the Scottish band Teenage Fanclub. Teenage Fanclub burst upon the music same around the same time as Nirvana, and a few critics actually claimed thier album "Bandwagonesque" was better than Nirvana's "Nevermind." Well, I don't know about that, but I certainly enjoyed their music back in THE DAY.

In case you haven't heard of these guys, here's a sampling of one of their tunes "Hang On." Enjoy.

Jeff

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here are some great tunes to help celebrate this St. Patrick's Day from one of the best bands to ever call Ireland home - The Pogues. Shane MacGowan certainly had more teeth back then!

By the way, Dools, if you are reading this, I read the article about your pub on Leader-Telegram online - very good stuff. I'll be in EC with Jase (at your pub) on draft day. See you then.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Jeff

Sight Is A Good Thing

I have worn glasses since I was 7 years old. That's a long time considering Old Man Thompson is now 42 years old. In fact, the last picture of me WITHOUT glasses is the one that you see to the left of this post. It's a damn good thing that I am such a handsome devil in glasses since I have had them for so long. No question. I've always had fairly bad nearsighted vision, and an astigmatism. Those of you who grew up with me know that I have broken dozens of pairs of glasses throughout time while playing sports. This used to drive my mom to the brink of insanity because I always needed a costly replacement pair immediately so I wouldn't be rendered blind.

Even if I wasn't breaking glasses, I would still need a new pair of glasses with a stronger prescription every so often because my eyes got weaker with age, Nothing odd there. This continued over the years and I never thought much about it. Then, in my late 30's, my vision started to change in a different way. I was very sensitive to light, especially sunlight. My vision would blur and I'd often see "double" when looking at the text on road signs and such. I chalked this up to old age. The problem, however, was that new glasses were not correcting the problem. I'd get new glasses, and the problems would persist, which really sucked. I'd blame the Optometrists for being incompetent and try and find a second opinion. This continued until I was referred to Kennedy Eye Associates in Roseville, MN by a co-worker at THE CHECK.

Now, those of you that know me realize that I am petrified of doctors of any kind. Medical, Dental and Optometrists. Petrified. You see, when Jeff Thompson goes to visit any of these individuals, I find out something that I didn't know about myself (see "cholesterol").

The day I went to Kennedy Eye Associates in Roseville, MN, half-expected to get another bunk prescription, and half-expected to find out that I have a disease that will cause my eyes to explode. After a vision test that revealed my vision sucked, the doctor shined a flashlight in my eyes and declared "something is not right here." I was then put me through every test imaginable (including some space-age contraption that was devised in Ireland, of all places). You can imagine my mental state at this time. I thought we were leaning towards the "eyes will soon explode" determination. After a few minutes, which seemed like a decade, the doctor returned to the office and declared:

"You have Keratoconus."

OK - what? What the hell is Keratoconus, and when will my eyes explode? This was certainly not helping with my fear of doctors. Well, it turns out that Keratoconus is is a vision disorder that occurs when the normally round cornea becomes thin and irregular (cone) shaped. This abnormal shape prevents the light entering the eye from being focused correctly on the retina and causes distortion of vision. Here is a link to a web site that describes the malady and has a good video with images of what sight with Keratoconus is like. (Mine is not quite as bad as the video, by the way). The doctor that this this has affected both of my eyes for the last 10 years. I also found out that the best way to treat a person with Keratoconus is with special gas-permeable, hard contact lenses. These contact lenses help re-shape the eye to is normal position, and allow the patient to see.

Well, to make a long story tedious, after a few more trips to the eye doctor, it was determined that the best course of action for me, Old Man Thompson, would be to first place soft contact lenses in each eye for comfort and a hard contact lens over the soft for vision. Two contacts in each eye for a guy who has never wore a contact before. I have to admit that I was sort of bummed out by this news even though Keratoconus is not a terminal issue. People do not go blind from it. And, while there is not a "cure," there is relief. I allowed myself to wallow in self-pity for a few days, however. I finally decided that there are people 10 zillion times worse off then me, however, and that I should shut up.

To make a long story even more tedious, I found out that I am a quick learner when it comes to putting contact lenses in my eyes. I found out that two contact lenses in each eye can actually be quite comfortable. And most importantly, I found out that I have crystal-clear vision with the contacts. Thank the Lord! And Kennedy Eye Associates in Roseville, MN, of course. I am like a kid in the candy store with these things. Giddy. I am seeing things that I never saw before - it's absolutely unreal. (quick side note - I found out that one of the soft contact lenses had a rip in it and has to be special-ordered. So, right now, I'm wearing my bullshit glasses that provide crappy vision for me. Oh well, 3 to 5 business days and they'll be back in).

So, I guess that I am lucky. A few decades back, this technology would not have existed and I would have simply suffered with bad vision. And, on top of it all, I look even more like Brad Pitt when I have my contacts in (no question). Yep, I'm really lucky.

But I still hate going to doctors, dentists and optometrists.

Peace and good sight.

Jeff

Metrodome Memories Commemorative Print......Probably Won't Buy It

I was browsing the Minnesota Twins web site and came across an offer for a Metrodome Memories Commemorative Print. As you may have heard, 2009 will be the Twins last year in the Metrodome as they will move into their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, next year. These prints range in price from the $975 autographed-edition (Lenny Faedo's signature?) to the $100 paper edition. I am going to go out on a limb and say I probably will NOT purchase one of these prints, but the advertisement got me thinking about the Dome, my own memories of the stadium, and the fact that it really is the team's last year there.

Now, those of you that know me realize that I am an outdoor stadium zealot. The Twins pursuit of a new ballpark probably took about 10 years off of my life. I'm glad that is over, and I'm glad the Twins won. I'll be honest with you that if I had a dollar for every time I have uttered the words "I Hate The Dome," I'd be a zillionare living on my own island in the Caribbean. I have not been a fan of indoor baseball, plastic grass or the plastic baggie in right field. I can hardly wait for outdoor baseball.

While I will not miss the Metrodome, I have to admit that I do have a fondness in my heart for the place. Kind of the same way I have a fondness for my 1979 Chevy Chevette with a hole in the floor, as I have mentioned before. The Dome kept baseball in the Twin Cities in the early '80's. It provided Twins fans with two - two! - world championships and many, many Division championships. Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Frank Viola, Bert Blyleven, Torii Hunter, Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, Gary Gaetti, Jeff Reardon, and many other great players have called The Dome home. I, myself, have attended easily over 100 games at the stadium with friends and family. I took all three of my kids to their first professional baseball games in the Dome. I even witnessed Cal Ripkin's 3000th hit there with my oldest son. Those were great times. I saw some outstanding baseball and experienced pennant races. I also experienced Ron Davis, but that is a story for another post.

I only have faint memories of attending Twins games at the old Met in Bloomington, because I was pretty young when the Twins played there. The Metrodome, like it or not, is the stadium I grew up with. The print got me thinking that my children will probably grow up with faint memories of the Dome and will consider, later in life, Target Field the stadium they grew up with. They are lucky for that.

I don't intend this to be my "ode to the Dome" post - I will write that later this summer. My memories of the Dome are good enough, however, that I have already purchased tickets for me and my family for the last regular season game to be played there - Sunday, October 4th against Kansas City.

I don't think I'll shed a tear, but it is definitely the end of a good era of baseball in my life.

Jeff

Gambling Funds To Pay For Viking Stadium? It'll Never Happen (?)

From a story in Friday's StarTribune:

Two hot-button issues at the State Capitol -- gambling and a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings -- came together Thursday in new legislation that proposed using revenue from a new Twin Cities metro casino to build the much-discussed stadium.

Saying his constituents were adamant about not wanting the Vikings to leave Minnesota, Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, said his plan would propose a constitutional amendment, asking voters in 2010 whether revenues from a new casino should be used to finance a new stadium.

"Let's let the voters decide," said Hackbarth, who acknowledged he had not spoken to the Vikings and had floated a similar proposal five years ago that gained little political traction. "I think this is a perfect solution" because there would not be a general tax increase, he said.

I have as much chance at being elected Pope as this idea becoming reality. (I'm Lutheran, you see. Thus, the irony). We've been down this road before. Building a Twins stadium with gambling money was tossed around the capital and eventually defeated. The problem with this idea is that both sides of the political aisle are dead-set against it.

On The Right, many conservative Republicans are against using gambling funds being used for a stadium because gambling is sinful, evil and we'd all end up in hell. The would be what The Right calls "an expansion of gambling." More evil. You see, a person has to look really hard to find gambling in Minnesota. It's not like there are casinos located in the four corners of the state, and lottery and scratch-off tickets are available in all gas stations. Oh wait - there ARE casinos located in the four corners of the state, and lottery and scratch-off tickets ARE available in all gas stations. Hmmmmm.

On The Left, many Democrats oppose gambling funds being used for a stadium because a privately owned casino would compete against the many Native American casinos and (no question) put them out of business. You see, Native American casino = GOOD, Private Casino = BAD. Why? Because the Native American lobby is a huge financial contributor to the DFL party in Minnesota, and that kills any chance of a Democratic politician voting for this type of bill. (by the way - I am not trying to come across as racist with these these statements. I simply believe casinos are either bad for everybody or good for everybody - not just certain segments of society. Just like everything else.) Voting against one of your biggest financial contributors is not a politically sound move. When this is brought up, I have heard a lot of DFL responses such as "well......um, no.......I.......simply couldn't vote for......EXPANSION OF GAMBLING!"

Now, oddly enough, even the Vikings themselves are cool to the proposed deal calling for the use of gambling funds. Vikings lobbyist and spokesman Lester Bagley, who is not known for turning down any offer of money (except from Anoka County), had this to say: "We're not advocating for a gaming situation," said Lester Bagley, a spokesman for the Vikings, who have been searching unsuccessfully for a way to kick-start debate on a stadium at the Legislature. "[But] if that's what the state leaders want to use," Bagley added, "then let's sit down. At least someone is thinking creatively."

The one entity that might actually accept this stadium funding option, however, is the Minnesota public. Countless polls have shown that using gambling funds to build stadiums tends to be more popular with the public than the use of tax money. If Representative Hackbarth's bill was put to a vote in 2010, it would be interesting to see what the result would be. Particularly if the Vikings were assured of moving to Los Angeles if the vote failed.

Now, I must say that I can't stand gambling myself. I find casinos depressing, and gambling (to me) is like burning money. It has the same effect. I also have to admit that building a stadium by using gambling funds seems a little smarmy to me. It reeks of Bad Karma. Geez, I'd hate to ruin the Good Karma that the Vikings currently are experiencing! So, I guess my only point to this entire post is that Hackbarth's plan has no chance.

Unless it's actually put to a vote on the ballot.......

Jeff

It Took Awhile, But The Blog Works Again

From today's St. Paul Pioneer Press:

Niklas Backstrom didn't become an unrestricted free agent, but he did choose the team he wants to play for: the Minnesota Wild.

Backstrom today signed a four-year, $24 million contract to remain with the team that plucked him out of the Finnish Elite league and made him an NHL all-star.

"I don't know if it was my last chance to look around, but it's one of them," Backstrom said. "I believe this team has a really good chance to get up there and fight for a (Stanley) Cup."

The blog works again! Although I don't know what took Doug Risebrough so long to sign Backstrom. I wrote about this back on February 7th, for Cliff's sake.

Good move - hockey teams that can't score need a good goalie!

Jeff

Old Fart Gigs?

I wasn't planning on saying much about the Gary Louris/Mark Olson concert that I attended last weekend (which was excellent, by the way). First of all, I wrote a review of the album. Second, while the music was great, it wasn't what I'd call an exciting concert worthy of a blog post. Let's just say it wasn't the same experience as attending a Flaming Lips concert. I really didn't think people would want to hear that much about it.

Well, I wasn't going to mention it again, until I came across a quote by Chris Riemenschneider, music columnist for the StarTribune, in one of his recent columns. Riemenschneider wrote a story about how the economy (it's poor, in case you haven't heard) was affecting concert ticket sales in the Twin Cities. Here is the aforementioned quote:

"The venues that host touring acts are generally finding it harder to sell advance tickets, but crowds often still show up in the end -- especially for shows with college-age fans.

Old-fart gigs are still packing them in, if they're beloved acts at a reasonable price. Proof was in last weekend's sold-out shows by the Pretenders and Gary Louris and Mark Olson, both of which were worth the $22-$35 ticket prices."

Wait a minute - OLD FART GIGS? Is he referring to the gig that I attended and thought I was hip? What the hell does that punk Riemenschneider mean by that? Is this what it has come to? Wasn't I (we) the one who drank a thousand beers and went to countless Soul Asylum gigs? Remember Jase? The Replacements, Husker Du and The Suburbs? Why, that was only...........20-some years ago.

Now wait, I've seen some cool bands lately. A few years back, my neighbor and I saw Shane McGowan and the Popes at First Avenue. We we're hung over for a couple of days after that, though. Hey - we saw Wilco at Northrop. I took the next day off from THE CHECK so I wouldn't be tired - I'm no dummy! And, to top things off, CR, Dave M., and I recently attended the Hold Steady/Drive By Truckers show at First Avenue. We took the bus, man. (Can't be too careful, you know!)

This brings us to the supposed "Old Fart Concert" that Riemenschneider is referring to - Mark Olson and Gary Louris. These guys came from The Jayhawks, one of the coolest alt-country bands of all-time. My brother and sister in-law came into town for that show. We arranged for a baby-sitter for the kids, drove down to The Varsity in his mini-van, and stayed for the ENTIRE SHOW - both encores! One thing that kind of sucked was that all of the chairs and couches were taken by time we got there so we had to stand. Kind of hurt the lower back after awhile. It was cool, though, because the show was finished by 9:45, which allowed us to get home by 10:30 so the babysitter could go home.

So who's calling who an Old Fart?????

Peace,

Jeff