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So the new Pearl Jam album was released a little ways back and now the new Alice In Chains, ‘Black Gives Way To Blue’, is now available. For me, it’s a personal flashback to the 90′s, a decade that musically, had some serious influence on yours truly.

Right behind Pink Floyd and just ahead of Led Zeppelin, Alice In Chains is my 2nd favorite band of all time and will remain that way after listening to their latest works at least 4 times in it’s entirety yesterday.

Sure, there’s a few tracks that don’t sound like Layne but then again there’s some tracks on the album that scream vintage A.I.C The title track is a tribute to Mr. Staley with Sir Elton John tickling the ivories on that particular tune. Lots of harmonies and lots of chunky guitar filled up with a couple of mellowier tunes round out the album and so for what it’s worth, if you’re an Alice In Chains fan, I’d skip out on work and grab yourself a copy.

So after completely ripping off the nail from my other little toe, I once again found myself hobbling worse than a two toed sloth with a walking cane and decided that there wasn’t a better opportunity to become familiar with the new Pearl Jam than right now.

From the confines of my couch, I let their new album, ‘Backspacer’, fill my ears with what turned out to be an album of positivity and inspiration.

Unlike some previous works that tend to be a little dark and sombre, this album sings of not-too-deep topics with silver linings of hope. Simplified and streamlined, the new record from Pearl Jam is a back to basics rock album and extremely refreshing.

For a guy that still wears plaid on a bi-weekly basis and has been a fan of PJ since the Seattle sound explosion, ‘refreshing’ is the word that comes to mind if forced to sum things up with a minimal amount of words. ‘Backspacer’, in my opinion, is worth the investment the next time you’re craving some new rock and roll.

Chico, one of the hometown dudes came out west last weekend and when we weren’t taking in the Trews show over at the College, it was a weekend full of new and past memories, some of which is a little fuzzy, similar to that of my face.

My friend brought a picture of me that I can’t remember being a part of but there’s no denying that it’s definitely me.

The guy beside is me a Marty, another great friend, and I’m not sure if Gene Simmons was in the house or what but here’s our impersonations.

I’m beginning to think this picture was some sort of wedding as I normally don’t cut the grass in a suit jacket and vest. (I’m still looking for the thumb ring and cuff links that I was rockin’ that night)

Regardless, it’s always good when a little bit of back home comes to pay a visit.

It was a great weekend for me. Had some of the River City crew come visit me for the weekend and their timing was impeccable with the Trews in town.

With a voice that’s almost non-exsistent from whuppin’ it up, it was a long time coming.

Here’s a pic from the side of the stage.

Ahhh, rock and roll

I love Thursday as it’s chance for me to excel at something I always appreciate; laziness. Written a couple of days ago and in today’s edition of the Medicine Hat news, here’s my column.

Television and I have been fighting all this week. It started with the Banjo Bowl and things have only spiraled downwards from there, much like a monster sized toilet bowl on a full moon during high tide. And there I was, lost in thought, waiting for that hamster to start spinning the wheel that I often refer to as my brain. And while I continued to restlessly linger for my melon to hit 3rd gear, I found myself going through old journals. I use the word ‘journal’ and not ‘diary’ for two reasons; it makes me sound more manly and instead of stereotypically writing down my feelings, I tend to use those empty pages of loose-leaf to capture any ramblings that may grace my noggin’. A series of those ramblings included ‘inventions’ that I think may benefit the world, or at least a handful of fellow weirdoes like myself who apparently, have too much idle time on our hands.

The Knork

My baby, my brainchild, ‘The Knork’ is a combo fork-knife dealio. Great for camping, even better for the penniless college student but ultimately contrived for those who epitomize the lazy version of eating, The Knork is guaranteed to change the way you eat food. How many times have you tried to cut into a hunk of grub with the side of your fork, only to have no choice and pick up that knife? The Knork eliminates this step with a serrated fork tong, perfect for cutting into potato skins, that hard part of your rutabaga and any other food that needs re-sizing before hitting the fuel tank of our bodies. Currently, The Knork is awaiting some minor changes as it’s been pointed out to me on several occasions that sticking a razor sharp edge into your pie hole could have consequences, mostly bad ones. Wusses.

The No-menu restaurant

Much like the preceding heading, it’s a restaurant with no menu. Let me rephrase that; there is a menu but it’s only available to the cooking staff and not the paying customer. While this wouldn’t be an eating establishment for everyone, I picture it geared more towards those who like surprises or can’t decide what to eat. Here’s how it works. Before you tie on the feedbag, you would simply offer your gracious server one of three possible eating options; a) a little hungry, b) your stomach is rumbling, or c) I don’t care what I eat but there better be a lot of it coming my way. Done and done. With the ordering out of the way, you can focus on more important things, like neglecting your dinner party to text some random dude you met in the park last week while walking the dog.

I also have ideers for remote control lawn mowers and have contemplated penning a book full of excuses of how to get out of work. Sadly to say, I have been forced to put my idea for a baby walking dog on the shelf for the time being as well as a doorbell that elicits shocks to solicitors.
And in case you were wondering, yes, patents are pending.

As always, if you’ve got anything on your mind and I do mean anything, you can find me every weekday between 5:30-11 AM on the Medicine Hat’s Best Rock, Rock 105.3 at 403-529-1053 or drop me a line at poncho.parker@rci.rigers.com

With the news of Patrcik Swayze passing away a couple of days back, I decided to hit up our listeners in terms of their favorite Swayze film and I’m proud to announce that neither ‘Dirty Dancing’ or ‘Ghost’ made the top three. Sure, these were flicks that turned Johnny Castle into a household name but it’s the following that made the top three, in no particular order.

Youngblood – Swayze portrays the role of a young hockey player while cougar Ms. McGill sleeps with the entire hockey roster. Pull out the Betamax, it’s worth watching.

Point Break – Similar to Youngblood, Swayze once again teams up with Keeanu Reeves except this time, Patrick is the bad guy. Sun, surf and some cool bank robberies. Personally, this is my favorite.

Roadhouse – Tougher than nails in this movie, Swayze saves the Double Deuce and the local town from the big wigs. Even Chuck Norris would be impressed with Daulton’s mad fighting skills.

I’ve spent the last 20 minutes searching the internet for a picture of the Bombers holding up the Grey Cup. I couldn’t find a single one which probably has something to do with the fact my Blue&Gold haven’t won the Cup since computers have taken over the world.

Yes boys and girls, it’s a sad state of affairs to be a booster of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as of late.

I do have to commend my arch rivals however and thanks any Rider fans for being so easy on me this morning, not to mention calls from Esks fans sympathizing with my loss.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, think what you want of the CFL but there’s no sport with such dedicated fans.

As amazing as a story it would make to say I woke up and found this soon to be ankle biter on my doorstep, that’s just not the case.

While cleaning up some computer files and folders, I came across this picture of Baby Drew, Rock 105.3′s first official baby. Truth be known, Dave, our producer is the proud papa. And I reuse the term ‘proud’ because while you can’t see it from the pic, Drew has some huge feet on him and you know what they say
about guys with big feet. Big feet. . . . . . . .big shoes.

After yet another week of living on the back of the Road King, I truly look like the battered and beat up biker. With a wind burnt face and sporting ‘the raccoon’ look, my arms have three seperate tans going on and my nose is still peeling from too much sun, despite the use of sunblock with an spf factor of 90.

3700 kms and 7 days later, German and I managed to see the most western part of this great nation with a trip to Tofino, BC as our only destination. After two days of resting at home, I’m already set to hit the road again. Much like tattoos, biking is addictive after you’ve lived the life for a while.