Getting to know your date by what is on his/her iPod

Any lover of music cannot deny that at one time or another they have begun to form an impression of their date or a new acquaintance based on musical preferences. After all, many things make a person who they are including music. Most likely the tendency was more prevalent in one's younger years and I can recall certain friends in the 90s saying, “If he/she doesn’t want to follow the Grateful Dead with me than it’s a deal breaker.”

A DJ always has opinions when it comes to music

Although I wouldn’t dump a guy today because of incompatible taste in music, it is always interesting and insightful to find out about another’s interest (or lack of interest) in music. Because of that, this article, “What Your Taste in Music Says About You on a Date,” resonated with me.(http://www.howaboutwe.com/date-report/1610-what-your-taste-in-music-says-about-you-on-a-date/) 

There is also a follow up with more bands (http://www.howaboutwe.com/date-report/1669-what-else-your-taste-in-music-says-about-you-on-a-date/).

Below I have pulled out some bands mentioned in the articles that are on my iPod and added my own commentary. I have also included a few bands at the bottom of the list that were not mentioned in the articles. Feel free to give your thoughts or add other bands in the comments area of this post.

Where Tito Once Roamed

Highlights from my recent trip to Europe

(Scroll down for slideshow)

On Lake Skadar

Riding the 8:10 pm Night Train from Belgrade, Serbia to Bar, Montenegro

The train has just pulled out of Belgrade, Serbia on the 11+ hour night journey to Bar, Montenegro. I am pretty certain that by the time we arrive I will have lost at least five pound through sweat. I am sharing a three-bed compartment with two Serbian babushkas and have had the misfortune to be assigned the top bunk. It is sweltering up here which is unfortunate because the only relief from the Serbian heat comes in the evening when temperatures drop from the mid to upper 90s (It’s even reached over 100 once or twice during my visit) to the low 70s.

Fat Tire Exploration in the Gem City

Cactus, Antelope & the Spirit of Woody Guthrie

Double-track & small rolling hills

Note: A trail system is getting developed in this area. Read all about the Pilot Hill project by clicking here. 

The folks at the bike shop told me that to get to any of the mountain biking near Laramie, you had to drive to the trailhead. 

I remember from my time living here “back in the day” that there was a trail we used to ride from town called Coyote Canyon. When I asked about it, the bike shop staff told me that it is and has always been private property and discouraged me from riding it. Being a little bit rebellious (And really wanting to go on a ride without driving to a trailhead!) I set out to find it.

They Told Yankee Doodle a Thing or Two

Reflections on July 4, 1976 & Rebellion

Reminding me of my love for the Allman Brothers Band

A review of Gregg Allman’s memoir, “My Cross to Bear”

Recently, I stayed up late several nights in a row reading this book. Quite engaging, a nice summer read. I intend to do a proper book review one of these days and make good on my promise to do more writing. I am hoping that this post will evolve over time.

Despite the not so great writing and the rambling nature of parts of the book, I still I enjoyed it. It is written as I imagine Gregg Allman speaks and his story is told with passion and enthusiasm.

JazzFest, 2010

To find out what others are saying about the book, you can click on this link:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Cross-Bear-Gregg-Allman/dp/0062112058/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

After reading the book, I can't get this tune out of my head....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwOXU-Ayt40

If the band played on, they were probably at a great venue

Over beers the other night, friends and I were discussing great live music. In the spirit of the film High Fidelity, we began listing our all-time, top five concerts. I couldn’t possibly limit my list to just five shows so Instead, I tried to come up with my all-time, top five venues, which soon became the nine top venues. In an effort to revisit some of my fondest musical memories and make good on my promise to do more writing, I decided to put the list down on paper. Feel free to include your favorite concert venues in the comments section of this blog.

Types of Snow - How Many Have You Skied?

I've been thinking about snow a lot as we have been skiing in Southwest Montana for a few weeks now. Several springs ago, at the time of year when snow and ski conditions were changing rapidly, a friend commented on my use of the term “chicken heads” to describe the ski conditions at Bridger Bowl.  Given that I was unemployed at that time and had a lot of time on my hands, I came up with a list of words to describe snow and ski conditions.

A First-Hand Account of Activities From 10 Years Ago Today

Since I couldn't find anything to write about today, I decided to share a first-hand account of what happened on September 11, 2001. This text is copied directly from an email I have saved and is in response to my original email titled, "What Did You See?" It was written by a relative that is not only an artist and a musician, but a great story-teller.

High Performance Gear – A Clever Choice?

My British travel companion Andrew limped towards me in pain. Blisters again. “That’s what you get for wearing brand new leather hiking boots,” I thought to myself.

“And why don’t you get yourself a pair of lightweight trail shoes?” I added silently. ‘They’ll surely help you move faster.”

I contemplated all of this as I soaked in the magnificent view from the summit of Rysy, a 2,499-metre peak in the High Tatras that straddles the Slovakia and Poland boarder. Andrew and I spent the prior day hiking to Chata Pod Rysy, a mountain hut precariously situated below Rysy’s summit. We woke to a noisy room filled with rambunctious Czech climbers eager to attack the nearby crags and after a hearty Slovakian breakfast, we were off to Rysy.