Chicago Fire v Colorado Rapids 2011-08-27

Last night, I attended my 2nd MLS soccer game with my friends Mario, Joe, and Joe's son Zach.  I was able to get a deal on the tickets through work (which is across the street from the stadium).  We arrived a few hours before the game, and enjoyed a few beverages, chicken wings, sausage, and chips while tailgating.  It was a great night for a game as it was a clear night with temps in the 70's.  It is one of the better game's the Fire have played in the last several months.  Here are a few pics.

View of downtown Chicago from the Stadium

Ticket stub

Some action shots from the game.

 Fire win 2-0!

Dropkick Murphy's - Summerfest, Milwaukee - 2011-07-08

This Summer I made my first trip to Summerfest in Milwaukee.  My wife, mother-in-law, daughter and her boyfriend joined me.  The rest of them were interested in seeing Gaelic Storm play that day.  I watched Material Re-Issue during that time.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was members of Chicago's Material Issue sans their lead singer who committed suicide many years ago.  They put on a great show and played my favorite track, "Valerie Loves Me".

In between sets, drinking beers, and eating, I walked around the grounds.  Here are some funny t-shirt designs they had for sale.

Of course, the main reason we were there was to see the Dropkick Murphy's again.  We had seen them in back to back nights in February in Milwaukee and Chicago.  As usual, they were great.  Here are a few pics from my cell phone and the set list.

01 Hang Em High (2011 Going Out in Style)
02 The Fighting 69th (1999 The Gang's All Here)
03 Barroom Hero (1998 Do or Die)
04 The Gangs All Here (1999 The Gang's All Here)
05 Time To Go (2003 Blackout)
06 Deeds Not Words (2011 Going Out in Style)
07 State of Massachusetts (2008 The Meanest of Times)
08 Take Em Down (2011 Going Out in Style)
09 Going Out in Style (2011 Going Out in Style)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzrfQHmrmT4
10 Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya (2008 The Meanest of Times)
11 Sunday Hardcore Matinee (2011 Going Out in Style)
12 The Auld Triangle (2005 The Warrior's Code)
13 Get Up (1998 Do or Die)
14 Cruel (2011 Going Out in Style)
15 Blood and Whiskey (1999 The Gang's All Here)
16 Peg O' My Heart (2011 Going Out in Style)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXpQ8ajydVw
17 Tessie (2004 Tessie EP) The first time this song has been played live outside of Boston.
18 Black Velvet Band (2003 Blackout)
19 Homeward Bound (1999 The Gang's All Here)
20 Captain Kelly's Kitchen (2005 The Warrior's Code)
21 I'm Shipping Up to Boston (2005 The Warrior's Code)
22 TNT (unknown) They went right into this song and closed out the set.
23 Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced (2003 Blackout).  Encore #1 with Ken Casey singing from the center of the crowd.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXeyoEDhniE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLP4MHr6qwE
24 Boys on the Docks (1997 Boys on the Docks EP) Surprise Encore #2.  Most of the crowd had left the area already then the boys came back on stage.  I looked over toward the bleachers and saw a wave of people running back across them heading toward the stage.  I wish I would have taken a photo of it.

Great show!  I realized they played a lot of older material that I had not heard them play live recently, but reviewing this set list has validated it.

Traeger BBQ

Yesterday was the first time since July 4th weekend that I was able to get the Traeger XL fired up.

Here is the fire pot on the inside as the pellets began to ignite.

Here is the new 3 tier rack getting ready for use.

The first load of food to be made.  Cavanaugh's spicy polish sausage and an apple wood smoked bacon marinated pork loin both from Sam's Club.

Next up were some chicken wings.  I use the 10lb frozen Tyson bag from Sam's Club.  These have a sauce made with melted butter, a few packages of Papa John's garlic butter, dried ranch dressing powder, dried rosemary, Louisiana hot sauce, Frank's Sweet Heat BBQ wing sauce, and Buffalo Wild Wings Caribbean Jerk wing sauce.

Up next were two pizzas from Walmart.

Lastly, my friend Ryan W. from work and his son Alex stopped by after a fishing trip in Winthrop Harbor.  This is their Coho salmon with McCormick's Smokehouse Maple rub.



Chicago 2011-08-04

Here are a few pictures I took from my cell phone while on a business trip in Chicago looking out from the hotel, 4-star Renaissance Chicago Hotel.  They include the Trump Tower and a pic of the new Marilyn Monroe statue I took from the front seat of a taxi while driving down Michigan Ave.

Cutlery and More Shipment #2

Here is the 2nd shipment from http://www.cutleryandmore.com/ .  There are knife guards (the original reason I am aware of this website from several years ago), a $1.97 set of tongs, and a self locking set of tongs.

Amazin Smoker

A few weeks ago, I drove up to Racine, WI to pick up some wood pellets from http://www.cookinpellets.com/.  While I was there, I bought the Amazin Smoker that he developed.  I burned off the oils on it last night.  I plan to try it this weekend or next.  It is supposed to smoke for up to 11 hours if you only light one end to start the smoldering.

Cutlery and More Shipment #1

A few days ago, I received an e-mail notification about a BBQ tools clearance sale at http://www.cutleryandmore.com/.  Of course, I had to check it out.  Here is the first shipment.

Steve Raichlen Marinade Spray Bottle

Steve Raichlen Stainless Steel Flat Skewers

Stainless Steel Grilling Plank Saver

Dual Sensing Probe Thermometer/Timer

Steve Raichlen Stainless Steel Big Head Grill Brush

Stainless Steel Smoker Box (V-shape to fit in between Weber flavorizer bars)

Extra rack for the Traeger



Stiff Little Fingers - Double Door, Chicago - 2011-08-17

http://www.slf.com/
http://www.flatfoot56.com/
Ticket price = $20 (at the door)

I went to the show with my friend Matt S. from work. We got to the city before the doors opened so we went to The Pint (Edog knows the place) and had a few beers and a burger.

The first band, The Rambos, tried to sound like X. Interesting band - 2 guitars, stand up drummer w/ no kick drum, and female backing vocals. The novelty wore off after the 1st song we heard.

Up next were Chicago's own Flatfoot 56. As usual, they brought their brand of Celtic Oi! with them. This was the first time I had seen them as a 5 piece. I think I liked the 4 piece unit better. I could have done without the new songs (unrecorded as of this date) that they played live for the first time. They ended the set with 'Amazing Grace'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np7IjmgbCx8&feature=related Overall, it was nice to see them again before the Riot Fest.

Finally, SLF hit the stage. It was interesting to note that their bass player this evening was from the Chicago band Dummy. I believe he plays in a Chicago punk cover band with Jake Burns. This is the 3rd time I have seen them in about 5 years, and it was the best. Jake's vocals were much better than the other times. No new songs were played which was a bit of a disappointment as I really wanted to hear 'Liar's Club' again. About every 3rd song, Jake spoke about the meaning behind the next song. Unfortunately, I couldn't hear what he was saying. Overall, I had a great time and was glad that I attended. Here is the setlist.

01 Roots, Radicals, Rockers, and Reggae (1981 - Go For It LP) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyBQESqzfDo
02 At the Edge (1980 - Nobody's Heroes LP)
03 Nobody's Hero (1980 - Nobody's Heroes LP)
04 Silver Lining (1981 - Go For It LP)
05 Straw Dogs (1979 single)
06 Just Fade Away (1981 - Go For It LP)
07 Listen (1982 single)
08 Doesn't Make It Alright (1980 - Nobody's Heroes LP)
09 Barbed Wire Love (1979 - Inflammable Material LP)
10 Strummerville (2004 - Guitar and Drum CD)
11 Wasted Life (1979 - Inflammable Material LP) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kImXKQGpZdE
12 Fly the Flag (1980 - Nobody's Heroes LP)
13 Tin Soldiers (1980 - Nobody's Heroes LP)
14 Suspect Device (1979 - Inflammable Material LP)
15 Johnny Was [encore #1] (1979 - Inflammable Material LP)
16 I Fought the Law [encore #2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJllZpV2oak
17 Alternative Ulster (1979 - Inflammable Material LP) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU7aVjJ_SJs

 I saw the following people at the show.

Jeff Pezzati - vocals, Naked Raygun
Eric Spicer - drums, Naked Raygun
Rob Villanueva - lead singer, I Attack
Justin, record label owner of Shot Baker's label
Senor Citizen - guitar, Destroy Everything
Jeff Dean - guitar extraordinaire, 50+ Chicago bands including The Bomb, Noise by Numbers, All Eyes West, etc.

Sorry.  No good pics from this show as the lighting at the venue is horrible for photos more than 3ft from the stage.  I did manage to take this pic of Flatfoot 56 from my cell phone.