Faith No More make triumphant return to Brooklyn

Faith No More make triumphant return to Brooklyn

Having not played a concert in America since 1997, the highly anticipated return of Faith No More to Brooklyn on July 2nd was sure not to disappoint.

Put on by the Open Space Alliance in the East River State Park at the Williamsburg Waterfront, the show began with 30 minutes of beatboxing from Rahzel, from the hip-hop group The Roots.  Rahzel is also a close friend of FNM’s singer, Mike Patton, and also performs with him in another group entitled Peeping Tom.

Rahzel warmed up the crowd, and then gave way to comedian Neil Hamburger, who didn’t receive the greatest welcome from an increasingly anxious group ready to see the main attraction.  Constantly hacking violently into the microphone and spitting into a cup and then drinking from it (all part of his shtick),  he proceeded to do about 30 minutes of jokes, using most of the time to poke fun at the Red Hot Chili Peppers and their singer, Anthony Kiedis.  Not going over well with crowds has always been part of Hamburger’s

Finally, the stage was set, and after dropping a large red curtain behind the stage, Faith No More emerged, playing the apropos “Reunited” by Peaches and Herb.  From there, they ripped into their catalog, looking like they had never taken a 12-year hiatus.  Starting with “From Out of Nowhere”, they worked the crowd into a frenzy from the first note, and only let up for a few slow songs, including the Commodores’ “Easy” and the BeeGees’ “I Started a Joke”.

Sounding as good as their records, they proceeded to constantly cause the primarily intoxicated crowd to go crazy, playing everything the fans (including myself) wanted.  Songs like “Ashes to Ashes”, “Last Cup of Sorrow”, “Land of Sunshine” and their largest hit, “Epic” kept the crowd going wild for their hour and-a-half set.  They even treated the fans to a double-encore, first starting with the “Chariots of Fire” theme song before segueing perfectly into their song “Stripsearch”.  They then took a bow and left, only to return to the stage for one last song which the crowd was loudly yelling for, “Be Aggressive”.

From beginning to end, Faith No More were the epitome of what rock and roll is all about.  Energetic, loud and finally back on tour, they didn’t disappoint the fans who remembered just how intense the band’s shows were.  An ‘epic’ return from one of rock’s most influential bands of the past 20 years, Faith No More at Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Waterfront was one of the best concerts you’ll see this summer, barring you’re not stuck in the moshpit!

Faith No More will also be playing in Philadelphia on July 3rd, and again in Brooklyn on the 5th before returning to the European festival circuit.  These may be your last chances to see them in America (as they have no further U.S. dates planned), so don’t miss out!

where I’m at (5/22/10)

So, I haven’t written in a while… but after reading George Carlin’s autobiography “Last Words” (released after he died), it made me realize the goals I have been working for, and gave me a renewed sense of needing to DO something.

In the final chapter, he talks about wanting to do a Broadway show, as sort of a finalization to his career (and sense of self-worth), but obviously didn’t get a chance to do that.  It reminded me of my dream to do a Broadway show as well, although mine is a re-creation of Frank Zappa’s “Joe’s Garage”.  These two people have gone a considerable way towards shaping the man I have become, and I feel in certain ways a connection to both artists.  I was fortunate enough to see George while he was still alive, but didn’t begin to appreciate Zappa until he had been gone for a few years.  It was my shared dream with Carlin that re-affirms that what I want is obtainable, as long as I make it happen.

In saying that, it has all given me (even) more of an appreciation of myself, and that I have a long journey still ahead of me.  Remembering GC and FZ reminds me to fight for what I believe in and to always speak my mind, even when it isn’t the most popular thing being said.

As I approach the next phase of my life, which begins with my move to New York City at the end of the summer, I still feel a sense of living up to other people’s goals of me (including, and ESPECIALLY my mother and aunt, who have been the most influential people in my life), but also in people that know me.  I’ve seen people and friends come and go, and realize that what we do with ourselves is also to prove to them that we’re not just completely full of shit, but that we are who we say we are.  It’s for the lovers, the haters, and anyone else who has ever taken a personal interest in our existence.

So, I suppose it’s time to start getting down to business; the reason I feel like I’ve been living in Pembroke for the past two years (why else would I be here?)  I finally graduated (and will actually receive my degree once I complete an internship), so it’s time to start putting this crazy plan of mine into motion.

As of right now, my personal goals look something like this (also a good way of sticking to my goals):

1. Move to NYC
2. Learn more about the movie business while working.
3. Get a Master’s degree (for the purposes of #2)
4. Eventually move into working as a cameraman, as a means to attain my ultimate goal as a director (or director of photography, I’d be happy with that, too)
5. Find a good woman
6. Make her my wife
7. Make some babies
8. Keep all of us happy

(not necessarily in that order)…

And later:

1. Write a novel

10.  Develop it into a screenplay

11.  Make a movie (hopefully based on my novel)

12.  Turn “Joe’s Garage” into a Broadway musical (with Ray King as the Central Scrutinizer, as promised)

Just a little quick rambling… I need to start doing this more often (as long as it doesn’t distract me from reaching my goals!)  Time to get back to work on my life…  Thanks for read

Love in Pembroke

I’d like to do a feature on the sex lives of students here at UNC-P, to see how sexually active our students are.  We are always told that sex sells, and I’m not one to disagree with that theory.  Everybody is always interested in other people’s secrets, and this would be great publicity for whatever publication that chose to run the story, especially the Pine Needle!

This always helps with determining possible STD rates, and also increases awareness for uses of protection… but mainly, for the previous reasons given.  Sex sells, and would greatly increase readership.

The history of WNCP-TV

I’ve seen random articles posted on walls about the television station, and have always wanted to do a little more research into the roots of the Broadcasting department’s pride-and-joy, and the staple of the program.

I would like to do more research on George Johnson, since he seems to many to be the hermit buried in his office (seems more like a weird tech lab than an office!)

Increasing housing rates

As Pembroke continues to increase in size, the rates are going up at local apartment complexes, and in many cases seem to be out-pricing the area, and the students.

Not to put the university down, but we normally won’t attract the wealthiest students, and certain apartment complexes have continued to raise their rates, most without even offering improvements to their sites.

If not REALLY looked at closer, they will continue to hold a monopoly over students going to school at UNC-P, seeing as there aren’t any other apartment options within at least 10-15 miles of the school.

Student Government Association

The SGA this year has gone through a major make-over, with a Phillipino president and a plethora of Freshman senators, and I would like to showcase the “new face” of the SGA here at UNC-Pembroke.

I would focus on what activities the SGA puts on throughout the semester, and show how much they actually do behind the scenes to make UNC-P better.

Retention rates

Since I’ve heard one of the largest problems at UNC-Pembroke is the retention rate of freshman, I would like to get a little more in-depth with a few freshman to see what their opinions of the school are, and try to figure out what could be the main contributor to students not returning.

I would also investigate average freshman GPAs and living conditions, which I have heard are two of the main indicators of retention rates.  Students who aren’t doing well may have some advice to what needs to be improved, and living conditions in the dormitories haven’t seemed to be conducive to helping students learn.

UNC-P Braves football going to it’s first playoff ever

In just our 3rd season of having a football program again, the UNC-P Braves are going to their first playoff game.

In an NCAA Division II playoff selection party hosted by UNC-P Athletics and Student Life in the University Center Lounge on Nov. 9th, the Braves found out they will have to travel to Arkansas Tech, instead of hosting the first-round game as expected.

This will be a tougher game than originally expected, and also means UNC-Pembroke will miss out on valuable revenue that a home game would have brought to the school and the surrounding community.

I know a few of the players, and would interview a few of them to see how they feel, and also contact the coach for a few words.

Dr. Charles Jenkins

As the interim chancellor at UNC-P, for a little while now (and helping to oversee the Chancellor search), I’d like to pick the brain of Dr. Jenkins a little bit, and see what all he has been up to filling in for the vacant position.

I’ve met Dr. Jenkins many times this semester already, and feel he would be open to a lengthy interview about what is happening with the serach, and how he enjoys filling in, in a great time of need for the college.

Handicapped Students

I’d like to do a feature story on how accessible the campus at UNC-Pembroke is, and if corrections can be made to improve the quality of living for disabled students.

It would also give mea chance to  focus onn the day-to-day life of a disabled student on campus here, and help shed some light (and possibly draw some sympathy) to the handdicapped students.