The Official "Total Randomness" Thread

[Addicted To Pain]

On my way to see Myles Kennedy at The Forge in Joliet, Illinois! First show of the tour!

[TenaciousBe]

Today marks four years since I joined this board. Wow. It feels like a lot shorter.

Waiting for everyone to say "Yeah, but I have been here for over a decade."

Hmm, cuz I was gonna say it feels like you've been here for a decade.

I can only check the actual ranking on a computer, which I currently do not have access to, but the last time that I checked, I had posted more than anyone that joined after 2014. That was a while ago, so the ranking may have changed since then.

There was a board and account reset at some point around that time. I can't be remember what the reason for it was.

Oh God, I still have PTSD from that. I was still a site admin at the time, and somehow I was tasked with the job of moving all the data from the old server to the new one, and I remember having my FTP program running for what felt like days trying to get everything lined up and working. I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to do that now, but apparently I was flying by the seat of my pants back then too cause I just remember it taking forever and a day to get done. I don't recall exactly why we had to move, but I thiiiiiink it had to do with changing to a different board software maybe? Or the old board just got broken somehow and had to move over to a new version, or something like that. I'm sure we lost a bit of our userbase with that move as well, since everyone had to sign up and start fresh.

[TenaciousBe]

On my way to see Myles Kennedy at The Forge in Joliet, Illinois! First show of the tour!

Dude, have fun! You should go live on FB for a bit and show us the setup.

[gbruin]

Today marks four years since I joined this board. Wow. It feels like a lot shorter.

Waiting for everyone to say "Yeah, but I have been here for over a decade."

Hmm, cuz I was gonna say it feels like you've been here for a decade.

I can only check the actual ranking on a computer, which I currently do not have access to, but the last time that I checked, I had posted more than anyone that joined after 2014. That was a while ago, so the ranking may have changed since then.

There was a board and account reset at some point around that time. I can't be remember what the reason for it was.

Oh God, I still have PTSD from that. I was still a site admin at the time, and somehow I was tasked with the job of moving all the data from the old server to the new one, and I remember having my FTP program running for what felt like days trying to get everything lined up and working. I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to do that now, but apparently I was flying by the seat of my pants back then too cause I just remember it taking forever and a day to get done. I don't recall exactly why we had to move, but I thiiiiiink it had to do with changing to a different board software maybe? Or the old board just got broken somehow and had to move over to a new version, or something like that. I'm sure we lost a bit of our userbase with that move as well, since everyone had to sign up and start fresh.

lol, Ah, yes, the move from ABB.net to TABN (T.A.B.N.? AB Nation? tabbin?...what are we gonna call this place?!?!). I still sympathize with all the mods efforting that at the time, cause that was a really big deal.

I mostly remember everyone freaking about keeping their post counts up to date. And, yeah, that would include me

[Addicted To Pain]

On my way to see Myles Kennedy at The Forge in Joliet, Illinois! First show of the tour!

Dude, have fun! You should go live on FB for a bit and show us the setup.

It seems like the venue is not allowing photos or video recording.

[Addicted To Pain]

I can already see the setlist. It is the exact same as for the recent shows of the European tour, except that there is a spot listed for "Acoustic" which could be anything.

[Addicted To Pain]

Well, no one followed the "no pictures or videos" rule, so I got a lot of video.

The setlist, though? They threw it out the window. Myles was having some technical problems and could not hear the rest of the band, so after the fifth song (Mr. Downside), he grabbed the acoustic and played three songs on that. We lost two songs on the setlist as a result, but they were not ones that I was eager to hear anyway (Tell It Like It Is and Wake Me When It's Over).

A full review will come later, but I will say that he played Eden by The Mayfield Four for the first time in years, and he played Watch Over You on an electric guitar. He probably has not done that in 17 years.

[gbruin]

Working an extra night shift tonight to generate some extra dollars to send back to relief agencies in Los Angeles. I've been doom watching since the fires began and the devastation there is absolutely heartbreaking.

[Addicted To Pain]

Today marks four years since I joined this board. Wow. It feels like a lot shorter.

Waiting for everyone to say "Yeah, but I have been here for over a decade."

Hmm, cuz I was gonna say it feels like you've been here for a decade.

I can only check the actual ranking on a computer, which I currently do not have access to, but the last time that I checked, I had posted more than anyone that joined after 2014. That was a while ago, so the ranking may have changed since then.

I just checked it. I have posted the 38th most out of all users on this board. In fact, I am surprisingly close to passing longtime users like Dan Dando and Crumbso in post count.

[Andy92]

I’m 6th. Can never catch Timo.

[Timotheus]

I’m 6th. Can never catch Timo.

You could create a spam thread in the Community Notebook section and post there non-stop. Nobody would notice/care probably.

Whenever people talk about body count, I can always say that I've got something way more impressive. A high post count on TABN!

[Addicted To Pain]

Whenever people talk about body count, I can always say that I've got something way more impressive. A high post count on TABN!

The idea that people should have a "body count" that is higher than 1 just disgusts me.

[gbruin]

Don't confuse quantity and quality.

[Timotheus]

My post count is proof that both are possible at the same time!

[zazthespaz]

Mine's not!

[gbruin]

I have a theory that the summer concert/festival events in Europe are hurting rock tours in the US, particularly AB and the various side gigs.

Bands are understandably arranging their schedules to be able to hit as many of the big events across Europe. Prestige, big crowds, more exposure, shared expenses (stage, lighting, PA, security, ticketing, etc), ability to play some solo shows midweek. If you add in a month or so of rest before and after, and if you want to include a month or two to maybe write or record something, and then allowing for Christmas/New Years time at home with family, bands end up with a very small tour window here in late October-Nov or Jan-Feb. And that's a tougher time for fans here because kids are in school, there's less travel opportunity, and the weather can be unpredictable at best and outright lousy often. It makes it a lot harder for fans, casual or hardcore, to commit to going to a concert. That time frame also limits the venues available to bands as most outdoor amphitheaters or pavilions close in the winter.

I'm extra bitter right now, as MK cancelled tonight's Denver show because of a snowstorm 600 miles away from here, and I was already dreading the 4+ hour wait for doors at the venue in 15 degree weather downtown. It was the right call for the band and safety issues with travel and all, but it's still disappointing. I'm pretty sure AB's first show here on the ODR tour way back was cancelled by snow and never happened. And it's just a matter of time until this happens again because there aren't going to be any summer AB/MK/Tremonti tours here.

The weather and concert access from Valencia is looking better and better...

[TenaciousBe]

I have a theory that the summer concert/festival events in Europe are hurting rock tours in the US, particularly AB and the various side gigs.

Bands are understandably arranging their schedules to be able to hit as many of the big events across Europe. Prestige, big crowds, more exposure, shared expenses (stage, lighting, PA, security, ticketing, etc), ability to play some solo shows midweek. If you add in a month or so of rest before and after, and if you want to include a month or two to maybe write or record something, and then allowing for Christmas/New Years time at home with family, bands end up with a very small tour window here in late October-Nov or Jan-Feb. And that's a tougher time for fans here because kids are in school, there's less travel opportunity, and the weather can be unpredictable at best and outright lousy often. It makes it a lot harder for fans, casual or hardcore, to commit to going to a concert. That time frame also limits the venues available to bands as most outdoor amphitheaters or pavilions close in the winter.

I'm extra bitter right now, as MK cancelled tonight's Denver show because of a snowstorm 600 miles away from here, and I was already dreading the 4+ hour wait for doors at the venue in 15 degree weather downtown. It was the right call for the band and safety issues with travel and all, but it's still disappointing. I'm pretty sure AB's first show here on the ODR tour way back was cancelled by snow and never happened. And it's just a matter of time until this happens again because there aren't going to be any summer AB/MK/Tremonti tours here.

The weather and concert access from Valencia is looking better and better...

Firstly, condolences, having a gig cancelled sucks. Hopefully they find a way to squeeze in a makeup date somewhere down the road.

But I think you're entirely right about the touring. I think it just boils down to rock being a bit of a dying scene in this country over the past decade or two (or more), and the necessity to do those big festivals to cut down on costs to make it at all profitable. It pains me, when I think back to growing up in the 80s and 90s, just how much range there was in the Casey Kasem / Rick Dees / whoever else hosted the Top 40 countdown each weekend. Look at the Billboard Top 100 from 1989, the top 20 has everyone from Poison and Warrant to Bobby Brown and Paula Abdul, to Richard Marx, Chicago, Milli Vanilli, Roxette, Gloria Estefan, even Bette Midler. Looking over the top 100 for 2024, the only thing even remotely close to a rock act I can find is the Jelly Roll / Post Malone / Teddy Swims stuff, or maaaaaaaybe Hozier, but those are all a stretch to be considered rock. The GRAMMYs didn't even televise the Rock or Metal act awards, and they sure as hell didn't have any rock acts on the show. Super Bowl halftime show? There hasn't been a rock act since they got all scared after Janet Jackson's tittygate scandal and did some safe classic rock acts like Tom Petty, Bruce, The Who, and so on. Closest thing since then was Coldplay or Maroon 5, and they're both far more to the pop side of the spectrum.

Can a brotha get a got-damn Foo Fighter or a Green Day or SOMETHIN?!

Combine that with the sluggish "trickle-down" economy (heh), and there's just no money to be made from touring. No money to be made from album sales either thanks to streaming. I don't even know how bands are making ends meet these days. Merch? Meet-and-greets? Bake sales outside by the buses after the show?

Aw hell, I'm ramblin' again...

[gbruin]

I have a theory that the summer concert/festival events in Europe are hurting rock tours in the US, particularly AB and the various side gigs.

Bands are understandably arranging their schedules to be able to hit as many of the big events across Europe. Prestige, big crowds, more exposure, shared expenses (stage, lighting, PA, security, ticketing, etc), ability to play some solo shows midweek. If you add in a month or so of rest before and after, and if you want to include a month or two to maybe write or record something, and then allowing for Christmas/New Years time at home with family, bands end up with a very small tour window here in late October-Nov or Jan-Feb. And that's a tougher time for fans here because kids are in school, there's less travel opportunity, and the weather can be unpredictable at best and outright lousy often. It makes it a lot harder for fans, casual or hardcore, to commit to going to a concert. That time frame also limits the venues available to bands as most outdoor amphitheaters or pavilions close in the winter.

I'm extra bitter right now, as MK cancelled tonight's Denver show because of a snowstorm 600 miles away from here, and I was already dreading the 4+ hour wait for doors at the venue in 15 degree weather downtown. It was the right call for the band and safety issues with travel and all, but it's still disappointing. I'm pretty sure AB's first show here on the ODR tour way back was cancelled by snow and never happened. And it's just a matter of time until this happens again because there aren't going to be any summer AB/MK/Tremonti tours here.

The weather and concert access from Valencia is looking better and better...

Firstly, condolences, having a gig cancelled sucks. Hopefully they find a way to squeeze in a makeup date somewhere down the road.

But I think you're entirely right about the touring. I think it just boils down to rock being a bit of a dying scene in this country over the past decade or two (or more), and the necessity to do those big festivals to cut down on costs to make it at all profitable. It pains me, when I think back to growing up in the 80s and 90s, just how much range there was in the Casey Kasem / Rick Dees / whoever else hosted the Top 40 countdown each weekend. Look at the Billboard Top 100 from 1989, the top 20 has everyone from Poison and Warrant to Bobby Brown and Paula Abdul, to Richard Marx, Chicago, Milli Vanilli, Roxette, Gloria Estefan, even Bette Midler. Looking over the top 100 for 2024, the only thing even remotely close to a rock act I can find is the Jelly Roll / Post Malone / Teddy Swims stuff, or maaaaaaaybe Hozier, but those are all a stretch to be considered rock. The GRAMMYs didn't even televise the Rock or Metal act awards, and they sure as hell didn't have any rock acts on the show. Super Bowl halftime show? There hasn't been a rock act since they got all scared after Janet Jackson's tittygate scandal and did some safe classic rock acts like Tom Petty, Bruce, The Who, and so on. Closest thing since then was Coldplay or Maroon 5, and they're both far more to the pop side of the spectrum.

Can a brotha get a got-damn Foo Fighter or a Green Day or SOMETHIN?!

Combine that with the sluggish "trickle-down" economy (heh), and there's just no money to be made from touring. No money to be made from album sales either thanks to streaming. I don't even know how bands are making ends meet these days. Merch? Meet-and-greets? Bake sales outside by the buses after the show?

Aw hell, I'm ramblin' again...

For all those reasons, I would be shocked if they make up that show ever.

Great points on the de-evolution of rock music in the charts. There has been plenty of fantastic rock over that time frame though, so I wonder what precipitated and has propagated that? That could be an interesting college essay.

I have a tiny tiny unrealistic glimmer of hope that with the Super Bowl being in San Francisco (Santa Clara) next year that they'll go with a Bay Area band like Metallica or even Journey, but with I wouldn't bet more than a penny on it.

[Addicted To Pain]

I have a tiny tiny unrealistic glimmer of hope that with the Super Bowl being in San Francisco (Santa Clara) next year that they'll go with a Bay Area band like Metallica or even Journey, but with I wouldn't bet more than a penny on it.

Linkin Park?

Well, I mean, they were just snubbed at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame by not getting nominated in their first year of eligibility, so on second thought, never mind.

[Addicted To Pain]

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!