Ryan's Currently Unnamed Blog

I'm on the last page and click on the "Submit Order" button to get my tickets...

Connection Timed Out.

I panic.. and hit it again... Connnection Timed Out...

I check other websites... MY connection is OK... its on their side. FUCK!

And I only have 3 minutes to complete the transaction... before the tickets go *poof* and are handed off to someone else.

About 10 minutes later, still franticly hitting the button and hoping... and finally get a page saying sorry, you took too long and your tickets are gone.

BAH... I so need to start a ticket company that is sane.

Tags: White Sox - baseball - playoffs - TicketMaster

Last week, tickets for the American League Championship Series went on Sale, and I managed to score tickets to Game 1... I was nervous to write about it.. because we hadn't yet beat Boston... Last Night, the Angels beat the Yankees to determine who it is that we are gonna be playing. Personally, would have preferred to have gotten the yankees, but i can't complain at all....

Yesterday was filled with running around doing errands, one of which was heading downtown to pickup my tickets for tonights game... sure.. they are upper deck.. but I don't really care. We just won our first playoff series since 1917, and will be going back to the ALCS for the first time since 1993. Normally, I don't get too wrapped up in baseball. Sure, I follow the White Sox.. check the standings.. see how they are doing... go to a bunch of games to have fun... but I don't live and die with the team. But this is different... This is special... And I'll do anything in my power to not miss out when it comes to this.

When I went down to pick up my tickets, I couldn't help but get giddy.. fucking GIDDY... at the sight of the stadium, the marquee, and once I had my tickets in my little hands... omg.

So... in a couple hours, I'll be leaving to be on my way to make it there. Planning on getting there as soon as the gates open, just to soak up as much of the atmosphere as possible. Opening Day always has a buzz to it... like anything is possible, filled with potential. Today, the weather is gonna be similar to an opening day...
MAYBE in the 60s.. probably down to the low 50s by the end of the game... but the difference is.. we ARE making that potential a reality... just four wins away from having a world series in Chicago... a fucking WORLD SERIES... and it won't be the Cubs.. it will be my White Sox. I've suffered years and years of being the red headed stepchild of the city... but now it just might be our turn. Either way.. I'll be witnessing it.. from my seat.. 6 rows up in the upper deck... I'm just praying for a win... and while I'm at it.. gonna get a little greedy.. and pray for us to win this series, for me to get tickets to a World Series game, against either the Cardinals or the Astros.. and as long as I'm wishing.. lets win that game and the whole thing too...

But.. whatever the outcome... I'll be happy tonight... well, unless we lose 15-0.. but.. there's no way that's happening with the Angels limping in after a battle with the Yankees.
GO GO WHITE SOX!!

Tags: White Sox - baseball - playoffs

Her act was far more refined then i was expecting... Once she started and beckoned to her backup dancers to come on stage I knew that I was in for a show. Her music is kinda hard to classify as it definately club type music, but it has some heavier influences and witty lyrics. She's playing again next Friday at the Mix and I'm gonna do what i can to get back out to see her. Was originally planning on but I'm rethinking it now that I have SOOOO much going on... not sure if I'll be able to swing it just yet.

Stay tuned for further concert news!

Tags: Sid Maudlin

What a night! Three bands that I love, in an arena, with floor tickets!

First up was Autolux. Saw them open for The Ravenonnettes a few months ago at the Double Door, and here they are on a big stage playing in front of a big crowd! They sounded good, not as good as the double door, but with a large environment, and being the first band... i didn't expect the sound to be all that great. The general perception of them in the crowd ranged from "these guys REALLY suck", to "I'm Bored", to "Wow, that drummer is REALLY good". So, they weren't all that well received, but that's not too surprising, since they have a mellow feel to their music, and the crowd was mainly there for NIN and Queens...

After a short break, it was time for Queens of the Stone Age to play and they were tight... really really tight. There were people who were there JUST to see Queens, and actually left the pit before NIN. Josh was his good old self, ripping on the audience and having a great time of it. They actually did a fantastic job of warming up the place and getting people involved. They played more of their older stuff then I had expected and Nick Oliveri's abscence, didn't really seem to impact the power of their music as much as I thought it might. I was REALLY glad to see that they ended up opening for NIN, mainly because I missed them when they came through and played at the Metro (i think) a couple months ago.

Finally, it came time for Nine Inch Nails! The stage setup was (understandably) FAR more impressive then when they played at the Congress Theater a couple months ago. The whole set is a blur, but once the lights went out, and the old familiar push of the crowd toward the stage started, I knew I was in for one hell of a rollercoaster ride. I think that the pit was actually rougher at the Congress, but its always hard to tell and that impression varies depending on where you are standing. Surprisingly, the highlight to me was 'Right Where It Belongs'... maybe because it came about three quarters of the way through and the break was really welcomed, or perhaps it was because of the large projected images on a screen that surrounded the stage. Starting with happy pictures of suburbia, and families and pets and slowly shifting to business and corporate images and then getting into military and death and the trademark nature footage, this time of some sort of monkey hunting down a flamingo-like bird from a large flock. The pinnacle for me, was when they showed a 15 second clip or so, of George W. Bush, in a tux, dancing with his wife... of course drawing a large round of boos, and two extended middle fingers and a "Fuck you, mothafucker!" from me.

Again, I left wanting to hear "Something I can never have", but with auch a catalog to play from... that's a lot to expect. Was surprised to hear Suck and Reptile again... but the old standards, mixed in with the new tracks from With Teeth made for an incredible show. If you have an opprotunity to see this show, "GO!"

Tags: Autolux - Queens of the Stone Age - NIN - Nine Inch Nails - Concerts - Music

First off, been on a bit of a concert kick again... Maybe two weeks ago, I caught a show by the Minibosses at the Double Door. Was tons of fun seeing their first show in Chicago... nothing better then a hearing old school Nintendo songs, played in a rock/metal style. So much fun.

Last Night, I saw Sid Maudlin again at the double door. Was really impressed by her, and considering going to see her again next week on the 14th at Mix. Can definately see her succeeding... hopefully her following grows. Also, saw Three Dollar Bill and they were good, but I was a little bit disappointed. Last time I saw them, guess I was just more surprised by them. Definately not bad, and I'll still keep an eye out for them. Maybe I was just tired.

Other shows upcoming, Nine Inch Nails Friday at Allstate Arena. Hell, yeah... floor tickets, gonna be awesome. I love how it says, 'NO MOSH/NO SURF' on the tickets... yeah.. right... On the 15th, have tickets to see the Dresden Dolls at the Metro. Looking forward to seeing them headlining, and shows at the Metro are always good, despite this being All-Ages. Saw them with Nine Inch Nails at the Congress a few months ago, and definately worth seeing again. The 18th, is Slipknot at the Congress.. going to the Tuesday night show.. and looking forward to finally seeing them live. Should be tons of fun. Finally, the 28th is Insane Clown Posse at the Riviera. Gonna see their Halloween show, and been looking forward to seeing them again too.

Yeah, yeah.. go ahead and laugh if you want for any of the shows I'm seeing... Anyone who knows me at all knows that my musical tastes are diverse and I like a lot of different music, and I'm quite used to people ripping on a band that I like. Frankly, I don't care.

On another note... My White Sox have put together an INCREDIBLE season. Winning their division for the first time since 2000, best record in the American League, best in Baseball for much of the season, and have never spent a single day anywhere but in first place from wire to wire. Unbelievable. Sadly, for a number of reasons, I was only able to go to a couple games this year. Could have been worse. Due to some things going on at work, i wasn't able to get tickets to see them play Boston, and I've TOTALLY regretted it. But, at least I've been able to watch the games on TV... and they have been incredible. A blowout, and an incredible come from behind win. Especially amazing since we haven't won a home playoff game since 1959. Now its on to Boston for 2 games, hopefully they will win at least one of those, and we won't have to play a deciding game 5 here at home. Just wanna finish it now, and move on to the League Championship Series. Speaking of which.. tickets for that just went on sale today at noon. Tried to get tickets to all 4 home games, but only managed to get tickets to Game 1. Yeah, its in the upper deck.. but OMG!!!! Barring a huge collapse, I WILL be seeing my White Sox, playing for a spot in the World Series... UN-fucking-believeable.

The other news... is that I no longer work downtown and I'm seeking other employment. It certainly has been busy recently, and finding a new job is a priority. I of course appreciate anyone who can refer any positions to me. I'm sure I'll find something that is better for me, but things are really up in the air at the moment. Wheee.

Anyway... I should have more time now to write here... I'm really hopeful that everything will go well. Things have been a little bit crazy... but I'm actually REALLY relieved to not have to worry about the old job any longer. I didn't really realize until a couple weeks ago just how much stress it was putting into my life, and really.. I didn't need it. Just have to move on and find something... and realatively soon.

That's all for now...

Tags: White Sox - Sid Maudlin