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I've had a really good last month or so. The weather hasn't been too bad. There have been a handful of decent local rock shows around the city. Halloween is always a blast and this November also marked a very surprising and momentous midterm election. Top this off with my trivia team's domination over the last few month and things are looking on the up.

I stayed at the recordBar late after a big first place trivia win one week and watched up-and-coming Detroit indie rockers Thunderbirds Are Now!. TAN! showed up early and competed against fellow bar patrons in skills of the mind. They held their own and I think they had a pretty good time. About two years ago, I was quite impressed with them as an unknown opener touring with Enon (who produced their new album). Once again, they didn't disappoint . I was also a big fan of the local opening band. I didn't catch their name but I'm sure I'll see them again somewhere around town. They were a bit of a Yeah Yeah Yeah's ripoff - but who gets tired of that. The female lead singer was just as much a spaz as Karen O.

Halloween weekend brought me to a couple costume parties around town. The second one was a grand time with good free beer, a chili cookoff, and some of the best costumes I've seen in a while.
My favorite was the David Cross look-alike painted blue and going as Tobias Fünke from Arrested Development. I didn't go all out on the costume this year like I usually do but I did find an extrememly realistic and cheap pot-marked old man mask. I wore it with a black cloak and hood and unexpectedly bore a strange resemblance to Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. I wore the same outfit to the recordBar a few nights later for the special Halloween-night party at recordBar.

Local heroes Be/Non played Queen's 1980 Flash Gordon Soundtrack in it's entirety. Special T-shirts were in order, moustaches were grown out, and an assortment of synths and album samples completed the action hero scene. Headlining the show were The PornHuskers. I've heard of the band for years but never seen them. They're this trashy redneck hard rock / punk outfit that usually have skimpy stage dancers onstage with them. They're quite possibly the rowdiest band you'll ever see and the mad scientist stage gag was tireless. I'm proud to say that I made it through the whole thing. I freaking love this holiday. Btw, I made it through a ton of movies this Halloween season including Corpse Bride, the original Wicker Man, Halloween, The Dark Half, Children of the Corn, Hellraiser, Omen 2, Carrie 2, and Motel Hell per my annual tradition.

That Friday, on a date with Julie, I stopped in at the restaurant / jazz club Jardine's for some food and drinks. This was my first time in this club and although a bit pricey, it was a nice time. I'm not sure of the local group that was performing that night but their piano player was excellent and their female singer had an amazing range.

I spent the rest of the night at the CD Release party of local folk / strings group In the Pines.
Their new album is amazing and I'd highly recommend checking it out (if not buying it). I got it as part of the $12 cover that night. I absolutely love the vocals, chord progressions, harmonizing, and string sections. I think Julie liked the show a lot as well, especially considering she has played violin for years. Secretly, I think she wants to be In the Pines. To see Michael Forester's awesome pictures from the show, click here.

The next night, I completed my week of shows with a house party at my chum Aaron's. Friends Golden City, Mars and 30 Minute Recess played in the living room and it turned into a pretty good party of probably 75+. This was a bit of an anniversary show for 30MR as they've formally been a band for one year now. Somehow it seems a lot longer than that. Good job guys.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm ready for get togethers with old friends and family. It's a great chance for that twice-a-year chat with your crazy uncle or drinks with your out-of-town friends visiting family. Best of all just relaxing, which I plan on doing a lot of. Have a great Turkey Day (even if you don't eat the stuff).

-ick!