I'm done with cover bands

Attended not one… but two shows headlined by cover bands last night.   I did so for completely different reasons.

The Spazmatics
So, the best and only way to describe the Spazmatics is to call them an 80’s experience.  A radio/family friendly showcase of songs everyone in attendance can sing along to.

A few weeks ago, a co-worker stopped by and asked if I was interested in free tickets…  I discovered that some co-workers were planning to go as a group, so I agreed to meet up with everyone for pre-drinks and the show.

All in all, I can happily say that I had a really good time with my co-workers.  It’s a shame that we don’t get a chance to hangout more often for drinks and ha-ha’s.  

I split from the White Water Amphitheater (which was incredibly nice and spacious by the way) and made my way into the city to catch The Clampdown.

The Clampdown
The Clampdown can be summed up as a Clash tribute band.  Shortly after Joe Strummer passed away in 2002, I attended a Joe Strummer/Clash tribute show at the Lager House in Corktown, Detroit.

I didn’t know what to expect…  but I felt compelled to show up and spend an evening with fellow Clash fans who were also morning the loss of Joe Strummer.

The show was freakishly therapeutic.  Everyone threw their arms around one another and belted out lyrics to every song.  I easily had three or four beers poured on me that night and I didn’t give a shit.  My favorite memory of that show, was seeing a guy in attendance ask for a song to be played. The bassist/singer admitted not know it… and the guy hopped on stage - took off his shirt to display a red star with revolvers tattoo that read - Guns of Brixton.

A year ago, I discovered that a tribute band by the name of the Clampdown also plays shows in the San Antonio area.  They only play a handful of dates and it’s usually around August of every year.

I dug it verily and made it a point catch them again this year… 

Much to my surprise, they added a new guy on keys.  An extra drummer… they have a guy who plays a number of percussion instruments and a girl for backing vocals.

I couldn’t think of any Clash songs that had female backing vocals, but figured she would take on the duties of singing the Mick Jones parts.

In addition to wearing an Off! tank top, she was incredibly easy on the eyes… so the night seemed promising.

The show started… and something felt off.  I don’t know if it was too many things going on at once… but there were a number of miscues.  Lyrically and musically - things were disjointed.  The mix wasn’t particularly forgiving for the new female singer.  She drowned out everyone and I wouldn’t describe her singing as pleasant.

Again… it takes a lot of courage to go up there and do this kind of thing.  

I had my fill, when they began to cover Spanish Bombs and she didn’t know the lyrics to the song.  She was reading them off a sheet of paper by the drum kit and they missed an entire verse.

I opted to leave before growing more impatient and chalked this experience up to it being one of their off nights.

In the future… I hope the tribute continues.  There’s a lot of stuff going on with the “channeling” Joe Strummer throughout the night.  I think they could do with a lot less of that and just focus on not fucking up the songs.

We’re there for the music after all…

Rivals 2 | Fantasy Reality STATS thru 7 weeks | Numbers Never Lie

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It occurred to me last week that I should compile stats from the scores I’ve been tabulating for my Rivals 2 Fantasy Reality League.

The results were rather eye opening.  Here’s some of the stuff that I’ve discovered thru 7 weeks.

Link to : Scores & Rules
Link to : Stat Sheet 

Top 5 Point Totals and Averages (Active Cast Members): Thru 7 Weeks

1.)Frank : 145 Points (Avg. 20.71 points per episode) - After seeing Frank on Real World San Diego and then taking home the win in the Challenge : Battle of the Seasons, I knew that I wanted to draft him with the my first pick of the Fantasy Reality Draft.

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Some may argue that CT is a better/safer pick, but all I can do is point to stats that I’ve compiled thru this season.

Frank is a 5 Tool Player:

  1. He’s a physical specimen
  2. He’s promiscuous (+ Bi-Sexual)
  3. He’s emotional
  4. He’s confrontational
  5. He’s a heavy drinker 

Above all, Frank is a WINNER.  He’s undoubtedly in the drivers seat for MVP of Fantasy Reality League.

2.) Jordan : 130 points (Avg. 18.57 points per episode) - By far the biggest surprise on the Challenge This Year.  He was low on my depth chart…   While physically fit, I had concerns about his ability to perform on this show because of his left hand.

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Before I get roasted for making that comment… I root for the GUY every episode.  As do the fellow cast mates on the show.  I don’t know how many times people on the show have said “… and he’s doing this with ONE fucking hand!”

He’s hooked up with two separate girls in the house, so he’s pulling more chicks than I thought he would.  He’s also beginning to get into more confrontations among cast mates and this is why I liked him as cast member to pick up in the later rounds of our Fantasy Draft.  The guy is a total dick when it comes to admitting that he’s wrong or that his opinion is of any merit.  

Above all, Jordan has been killing it in Challenges.  Both he and his teammate Marlon have been ballin’ all season and its showing up on the stat sheets.

Jordan is in the drivers seat for Rookie of the Year… he has to worry about Marlon taking that title away from him tho’.   

3.) CT : 120 points (Avg. 17.14 points per episode) - CT is a BEAST.  He’s may be the only cast member on my sister’s roster that I’m interested in trading for and I’d do so out of sheer emotion.

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Statistically speaking… CT can be hit or miss.   In Week 1.) He dropped 40 points and spun my head when made out with 2 chicks (Bird / Diem) and nearly drowned Marlon in the pool in the opening episode.

He followed that performance and padded my sister’s overall score by dropping 70 points.   I knew that he couldn’t keep up that pace throughout the season… but I didn’t expect him to become a non factor after week 2.   With the exception of picking up 10 points in week 6 for winning a Challenge w/Wes - CT has not put up any points on the board.

If there were ever a time to trade for CT… its now.   He’s due for a physical fight or getting his dick wet.  I don’t know which will come first… but CT is a volcano that sleeps.  I know that he will erupt soon and I fear that he will be the deciding factor between my sister and I.

As much as I love Frank… if you ever have the 1st over all pick of the draft.  You’re doing a disservice to yourself and your team by not picking up CT.

4.) Marlon : 105 Points (Avg. 15 points per episode) - I love everything about Marlon.  He was my # 1 rookie to watch out for in Fantasy Reality this year.  

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I never thought we would see a rookie shake things up in his first year like we did when Leroy took 3rd place a few years ago on The Challenge : Rivals (1).

He’s equally liked and feared by his fellow cast mates.

He also hooked up sexually with both a guy and a girl in the same episode, breaking the Bi-Sexual Hook Up barrier - that I thought Frank was destined to break.

Fuck… I think Marlon is neck-in-neck with Jordan for Rookie of the year.

5.) Heather Cooke : 75 points (Avg. 10.71 points per episode) - This one is a head scratcher right?

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Cooke has a couple of things going for her… 

  1. She’s athletic as all get out and she’s paired with an athletic girl
  2. She’s flirty & attractive
  3. She once peed into a water-mud-pit while being suspended over it… she also had a high probability of being dropped into it.  I’m not saying that I’m into that… or that I’m looking for that quality in a sexy lady. I’m just saying that she’s down.
  4. She’s survived three separate trips to the Jungle thru 7 WEEKS!  She’s sent two teams home and she’s picked up 20 points for that alone.

This is her first ever appearance on the Challenge and if she and Cara Maria bring it home… she could be a dark horse - Rookie of the Year.

Lowest Point Totals: Thru 7 Weeks

5.) Nany : 25 points (Avg. 3.57 points per episode) - The one thing Nanny has going for her is that she’s going to get into a fight at some point this season.   

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She’s also likely going to hook up with someone on the show.

4.) Wes : 25 points (Avg. 3.57 points per episode) - I fucking hate this guy.  I’ve always thought of him as a juiced up racist.   He’s dropped a ton of muscle this season…  but he’s still a prick.  Fuck him.

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3.) Preston : 20 points (Avg. 2.86 points per episode) - Unlike Wes, I really like Preston.  On his season of the Real World, he plowed through a series of random dudes in the French Quarter and I figured that his promiscuity would carry thru onto this show.

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Instead…  he seems to be readily available for every Challenge show since becoming available to play.  He’s not particularly “athletic” and he’s quit on a number of challenges.

What I’m trying to get at… he’s not dead nuts last.   

He’s really good at breaking up fights in the house tho’.  If our league awarded points for separating cast mates squabbles… he would easily be in the middle of the pack.

2.) Camila - 15 points (Avg. 2.14 points per episode) - This one shocked me.  Camila has traditionally been a cast member who has had needed to be restrained for being crazy/loud/bitch and I love her for that.

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She’s a firecracker and has that something… that I find insanely attractive.  I don’t know if she has a boyfriend at home, but I’m surprised that no one is creeping on her.   It could be that she’s straight up stabby nuts - but love is contact sport y’all.

1.) Jonna - 0 points (Avg. 0 points per episode) -  You’re probably asking yourself… how is THIS POSSIBLE Rollie?  I’ve seen her kiss Jordan!  She’s also scored negative points for wearing cast member shirts in the Jungle to support her friends.

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She really hasn’t been a focal point of the show… She seemed to really slink into the background this season of the Challenge, when Zack was still around.  

I’ll put up another Stat Sheet at the end of the season and I’ll include participants who have been sent home.

Oh before I forget…

Highest Point Total in One Episode: 105 Points - each person (all girls by the way) went about scoring 105 differently.  I don’t know if we’ll see anyone crack that score, but it’s the club house leading score thru 7 weeks.

  • Sarah
  • Anastasia
  • Trishelle 

UPDATE: The Ballad of Jordan & Frank : Rivals 2

UPDATE: Missed 25 points : TJ dropped a “Killed It” on Team Frank and Bananas!

Got my Challenge fix last night and I must say that I absolutely love my decision to draft Frank with the first pick of my Fantasy Reality Draft.

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I may be in the minority, but I was excited to see Jordan (and Marlon) return from the Jungle.  The likelyhood of Frank and Jordan throwing blows is totally in play.

As is the possibility of Frank saying something about Jordan’s deformed hand.  We currently don’t reward points for saying indefensible things - but I think I need to talk to my sister about adding this to our scoring system.

Team Ro Ro: 75 points 100 points
Team Joker: 45 points

I’ve slowly cut into my sister’s lead and now only trail her by a total of 35 points.

Team Joker: 780
Team Ro Ro: 745 770

Top 5ish ballerz of the Week (there are 6 on account of a missed 25 point score)

45 Points - Frank
10 Points - Winning a Challenge (dog collar shock)
10 points - 2 verbal fights 2 with Jordan
25 points - 25 points for hearing Teej say he “Killed it”!

Re-Watched the episode and missed 25 points for Frank. He’s a BEAST on this show.  Totally worth the first pick of the draft!

40 points - Aneesa

25 points - Under the covers hook up with Ty
5 points - verbal with Diem
10 points - Winning a Challenge

Statistically speaking… there’s lots of points to be rewarded when the producers put out footage near the end of the show between large commercial blocks.  A few weeks ago, CT picked up points for intentional nudity when he dropped his shorts and jumped into the pool dick first.  Aneesa and Ty had their hook up televised on what I would consider a sleeper week.

25 points - Ty
25 points-  under the cover hook up with Aneesa
 
Ty was a total bust this season…  60 total points thru 7 weeks.  If we deduct 25 points for sex and 25 points for having TJ say “he killed it” in week 4.  He’s left with 10 points for winning an elimination challenge in week 5.  10 total points y’all.  Avoid him in future Fantasy Drafts - if possible.

25 Points - Johnny Bananas
25 points - “killing it” from Teej

20 Points - Jordan
10 points - Jordan for 2 verbal fights w/Frank
10 points - Jordan for winning elimination challenge…

10 points - Diem
10 - points for winning Challenge game

One of my favorite things to do with Co-Workers after every episode of the Challenge is to discuss Diem’s dance.  I need to find a gif for this blog post….

Ben Affleck & Batman

Admittedly, I’m very late to the Ben Affleck - is the New Batman - what the Fuck Party…  but here are my thoughts on Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman.

I know I’m not upset by the announcement… but I am a little surprised to hear that he’s going to wear the cowl.  For one, I read that Christian Bale was offered 50 million dollars to wear the cowl again.  Christopher Nolan isn’t directing this movie… but he’s an executive producer so I naturally thought he would take the 50 million.   It’s not like Batman has to carry this movie and we’re talking about 50 million fucking dollars.

That may have been a rumor and perhaps both Warner wasn’t interested in having him be a part of this movie and what will eventually become the Justice League.  Christian Bale may not want to do another decade of Batman either….
A new Batman made sense…

I forget who was on the shortlist of actors for Batman, but I never recall seeing Ben’s name on the shortlist.  I recall Ben’s name being tossed around for being a director of the new Star Wars movie and that got me a little nervous… but I always suspected they would go with a person who could play the role of Batman for the next 7 to 10 years. 

I then heard that this movie would adapt parts of the Dark Knight Returns.   A graphic novel I read earlier this year and highly recommend that you watch the two part Animated Dark Knight Return movie that will be out as one release in October.
In this Story… an older Bruce Wayne comes back from retirement - faces off against a new villain, takes on a new Robin, dispatches of the Joker and he fights Superman.

The last two, were really what makes the Dark Knight Returns so amazing.  The fight with the Joker is heart stopping.  Prior to their final conflict, the Joker rapes an older Cat Woman and dresses her up as Wonder Woman for Batman to find her.  Batman goes bat-shit and seeks out to kill the Joker.
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This won’t make the movie….  Some may say that he only ruffed her up.  Cat Woman however runs a whore house and I’m pretty sure that he raped her.  

N-E-Who…

A sub-plot to the Dark Knight Returns - is the battle between Batman and Superman that will completely floor you.   Superman is asked by Ronald Regan, to kill Batman.  The film is set in the 80’s… there’s a nuclear war thing going on while Batman is dealing with Gotham going to shit and the Joker being all rapey.

When Batman and Superman square off, it doesn’t end in a tie.  There’s a decisive winner. And in my opinion, this is the only Batman story that I want to see made into a live action movie.

I don’t know the name of the team that did the animated one… but they should let them direct and do the live action one in my opinion.  They recently did one where there’s a Flash who can fast enough to break the Time Barrier. 

He does a butterfly effect thing tho’.  In it…  Bruce Wayne dies.   The Dad becomes Batman and the Mom becomes the Joker….   that story is pretty awesome also.

So yea…  Affleck as Batman.  No big whoop.   If they announce that the Dark Knight Returns will be done in 4 parts (2 movies) - then I will come unglued if they cast the wrong people for that movie.