Raised On Radio #10 - Jump 'n The Saddle

In light of the recent 3 Stooges remake/tribute, I figured I probably ought to give 2 seconds of my time to the highest charting 3 Stooges-related song of all time (As a side note, I remember Moe Bandy and.Joe Stampley's "Hey Joe, Hey Moe" being a big hit near the same time (#10 on the country charts in 1981), but that song isn't about Moe Howard and Joe Besser despite the title).

A song about the 3 Stooges is probably not too weird in a time where the likes of Pac Man and Mozart got serenaded. I guess we were all shocked no one had thought of it before.  It's not really like any song on the radio now, and it wasn't then, either.

This certainly isn't a song that changed my life, but if I am talking obscure 80s hits, it seems like it deserves a mention. Wikipedia says this went to #15 in 1984 which sounds high to me, but it was played quite a bit for at least a couple of weeks. Also, I remember them saying a member of the band was a distant relative to Curly. Not sure if that was true or a good gimmick.

On the Shelf 071; Joey Ramone

It's hard to believe it's been 11 years since Joey Ramone died. For that reason, Ya Know seems like a much needed disc.

I was about as big of a Ramones fan as it comes, but it's not just that. It just feels like we need Joey Ramone right now. In the current state of music, he is missed.

I don't know why that is either, because I really didn't jump on 2002's Don't Worry About Me. I am not sure why. i had a couple of songs on compilation discs, but i never felt like I needed to spend any time with that album.

Ya Know has got my attnetion though. It's not out until next week, but Rolliing Stone has it streaming.

Of course it's an Odds and Sods affair of thirty years of unreleased tracks, though it doesn't really feel that way. There is a cohesion to it.

It's good to have a new Joey Ramone album in 2012. I don't want to oversell it.. Like that other late70s punk icon Stiv Bators, ultimately this album is really just for the genre's diehards. It's still not better than some of the last Ramones records.

It's a shame that we can't expect a follow-up in three years.

Comics RoundUp

A couple of recent first issues.  Both comics had issue #2 released today.

Reset (Dark Horse) by Peter Bagge-  Some of you may remember me as a big Hate fan in the 90s.  I liked Bagge's autobiographical style comics quite a bit.  Although Hate ran out of steam (any comic with longevity can) and I found people who thought did the same thing only better (Bob Fingerman, Evan Dorkin), I always cheered for Bagge.

I haven't heard much from Bagge, although that may be because the comics industry seems to be more focused on the Big Two and their superhero rosters now more than it was 20 years ago.  I did pick up (and enjoy) 2008's Apocalypse Nerd.

Reset really seems to be in Bagge's wheelhouse.  Reset is the story of a disgraced public figure (sorta Charlie Sheen-ish) and the scientists wanting to try out a virtual reality machine that lets him replay all of his memories.  I am going to leave it there, as it is funnier than it sounds, and Bagge is exposing things slowly.

I liked issue 1 alot and it really fells like a comic that if someone wanted to experience Bagge for the first time, I would have no problem recommending.  I hope it keeps the pace, but I am really glad to see Bagge back.

The Shadow (Dynamite) by Garth Ennis-  A lot has been made about Ennis taking on this character.  I must admit that even if I had a temporarily lull in enthusiasm for Ennis, after The Boys, I am completely back in his corner.  (I also should reference a previous blog comment, and say I am not familiar with Howard Chaykin's Shadow run, and comic geek embarrassment, haven't really read Chaykin's stuff much at all).

It's hard to give Issue 1 a full review.  It's purely an introductory issue.  I am sticking with this based on some recent strong work from Ennis and the fact he really seems dialed into this character.  I like Aaron Campbell's art for this type of story.  I like that this story looks to blend in a Ennis's love for a good World War 2 story and a type of character that Ennis should do well with.  I also think the character development and dialogue so far.

Hard to point out anything specific to make you run out and get this, but the potential is there, and if you don't pick it up now, I think you are going to wish you did.

Things to to do in Des Moines When You're Dead: Chain Restaurants

I ate at a couple of really good restaurants lately - Biaggi's- a mid-to-upscale Italian restaurant chain in which I think I was seated next to Bob Vander Plats (Guy who really hates gay marriage) but I could never get him to do anything that made me sure it was him, including working something into the conversation where I could say the words "Mike Huckabee" at a very loud decibel level.  I also made it to Fire Creek Grill which is well out of my price range- the place that has a fireplace and set to the XM station that plays smooth jazz but not the Kenny G station, the next one over.

Anyway, they are good places to eat, but they don't give me much to write about, so here goes:

Happy Joe's- Happy Joe's is a unique pizza place in this area.  Unique, in that they don't quite fit the Dominos/Pizza hut/Papa Johns 'cheap pizza fast' demographic, opting for a pie that is unique.  For example, Happy Joe's is where you go for BBQ Chicken Pizza, Gluten Free Pizzas,and BLT Pizza (yes,that means mayo, lettuce and tomato).  All are very good. 

At the top of the list (and I like it, though mileage varies) is their special - Canadian Bacon and Sauerkraut.  

This place is aimed for kids, but it has to fit somewhere on the lower reaches of the Iowa bucket list.

Twin Peaks- Okay, sex sells, and it was only a matter of time before someone decided to move in on Hooters territory.

It's Twin Peaks because it's an outdoors mountain theme- they promise scenic views (Hooters has nothing on that for subtlety, do they?)

Oh, and if sex equals webpage visits, here is what the servers wear:




"I saw some nice racks"

Hey-Oh!

I am interested in Twin Peaks for a reason that you would not guess (or likely believe) - it's going into a location that is a pure graveyard for restaurants.

It's a location where city zoning laws prohibit the idea of having a big sing out front.  The place has been more empty than occupied, as a Steak House, a Mexican restaurant, and most recently, a BBQ place have went under in short time.

It's hard to say though.  I think if anything succeeds, this will.  Sex has a pretty good record.

I would say more about Twin Peaks, but it opened this week, and the local paper wrote an article that covers it better than I would.  They wrote a brief synopsis of the history of the "Breastaurant" genre (Hooters had five unsuccessful City Council votes before Des Moines eventually gave in), described the outfits as "sultry Lamar Alexander"(tremendous!) and quizzed the waitresses on their David Lynch knowledge.  Well played.