KanJam

Muse, Beatles, Killers and more...

Has anyone been watching the MTV show the Burried Life? Basically it asks what do you want to do before you die? Well I'm going to change that question up a bit...well actually I'm going to change the question up totally, what current band do you want to see in concert?

My friend on facebook today asked me to make a top ten of my favorite concerts, and honestly it would be tough to do: Blink 182 was my first, and you never forget your first, Dave Matthews Band was the best experience, OAR had the best road trip stories, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock was the most suprising, because I went there for Skynyrd but Kid Rock proved that he was the real deal. There are many more concerts which I've gone to and loved, and they would be too difficult to rank. So instead we'll go with the orriginal question, what current bands do you want to see in concert?

There are a couple of stipulations:

1. A majority of the original lineup has to still be intact

2. They need to either be a rock legend or had a hit single in last 10 years

3. You have to have never seen them before live

With these rules in place I submit my top 5: (Sorry Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger I feel like it would be more depressing than enjoyable to see you on stage in your late late 60's.)

1. Muse-  After spending years in Europe, they're finally making their first North American tour and if you think I'm missing them in Toronto, you're crazy. From Nights of Knights of Cydonia to Starlight to Time is Running out, Muse consistently comes up with epic songs.

2. The Killers - My buddy Rick James has seen them a handful of times and everytime I miss out. Now, I will admit Hot Fuss and Sam's Town were significantly better than their last two albums, but watch this live performance of "Bones," my personal favorite Killers song and tell me that they don't rock.

3. Jay-Z -  Now I will openly admit that I am a banwagon fan, in fact I severly dislike most rap, but he has far too many great songs for me to name, and eventually you just have to forget that he's a rapper and admit that he's a great artist.

Since most of his songs would be inappropriate to play here, we'll go with a great spoof from Austin Powers

4. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - I could do without seeing them in just their tube socks, but you can't deny them of their talents, and they're still going strong after nearly 20 years. Here's Dani California, one of my favorite Chilli Peppers songs.

5. I thought about going with the Foo Fighters here, or maybe the Kings of Leon. I seriously even thought about Justin TImberlake, because game respects game and Timberlake definetely has game. But instead I'm going to break my own rules and go with paul McCartney. I know I said it would be more depressing than enjoyable to see him strut around the stage in his 60's, but it's still Paul McCartney and he's still my musical hero. Here he is last year playing "I saw her standing there"

On second thought, I was right the first time. Just watching it on youtube makes me depressed that I never got to see the Beatles perform in the 60's. So I'll leave you with these three classic video from the Beatles rooftop concert in 1969. This is how they should always be remembered.

What are some of your dream concerts?

Until next time,

Alex

What Kan you do with a Kan Jam?

It's the winter months in Buffalo and I have a few sets of Kanjams sitting in my garage, begging for some use. So that brings the question: What can you do with a Kan Jam?

Well this weekend I'm about to find out as my friends and I are planning on taking some kans to a park and seeing how aerodynamic they can be. I mean as a kid we used to slide down on garbage can tops, can Kan Jam goals be any worst?

Besides sledding what other ways are there to use Kan Jam in the winter months? Here's a couple I came up with:

1. You could build a really cool fort if you connect the goals in the back...and the instant win slot will make a great peep-hole to see when people are coming

2. If you're really into dungeons and dragons I bet the goal would make a great shield...

3. What about putting on some warmer clothes and actually playing Kan Jam in the snow?

I'm running short on ideas here...but what about...

4. Nope there's nothing more...Kan Jam isn't as versatile as I thought it would be.

But let me know if you have any other ideas I didn't come up with and photos of the sledding adventure will be posted next week.

Until next time,

Alex

United States of...Pop?

Really great remix from DJ Earworm...If you think you know all of the songs that are used than check out this sporcle quiz.

Quick post I know, but still a great song to wake you up in the morning.

Until next time,

Alex

A forgettable NFL playoff weekend

The NFL regular season moves along at a slow pace. Unlike every other league the games are generally only available to the public two days a week (Unless you're lucky enough to live in an area where the NFL Network graces your television), and the 17 weeks lead up to the collision course that is the NFL playoffs. Generally the wildcard and divisional rounds of the NFL playoffs are two of the greatest sport weekends of the year that don't involve March madness. However this year there have been only two games decided by less than 10 points, and out of those two games only one of them could be considered exciting. I don't want to hear anything about the Jets-Chargers game on Sunday, the Chargers played horrible and gave the J-E-T-S several opportunities to put the game away and the New York was barely good enough to do it. A poorly played game by both teams.

Seriously, except for the great Cardinals-Packers game last week, the NFL playoffs have given me a feeling reminiscent of being a DD. People are having fun around you (the fans of the teams playing) but you just want to be anywhere but there, preferably taking a nap (which I did during three out of the four playoff games for the second straight weekend.)

I love the NFL, is it too much to ask to have two competitive games in the championship round?

Maybe I'm just bitter after reading this disheartening column by Jerry Sullivan about the Bills coaching search. Seriously, when Russ Grimm decides he doesn't want to even take an interview there are some issues in the franchise. But growing up in Buffalo and being a die-hard Bills fan, I can at least take heart in the fact that Bill Cowher has not officially said no. He won't do that until after his obligations with CBS are done for the season.

The Bills will probably end up with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier as their head coach, and while that's a decent name who has run a great defense for the past few years, the Bills need an offensive minded coach...How about Mike Leach? or my personal favorite scenario, reuniting the winning qb-coach combo from the UFL: Jim Fassel and JP Losman. And no, I'm not kidding.

And if worst comes to worst...GO SABRES.

Until next time,

Alex

Why can't we be friends?

Happy Friday everybody!

Is everyone else as excited for what should be four great NFL playoff games this weekend?

Quick and short post leading us into the weekend...plus a catchy tune as well.

If you haven't done so already, you can now friend Kan Jam on facebook and follow TheKanJam on twitter. By doing so you will be making yourself eligible for discounts on games and apparel.

Now everyone go out and enjoy the weekend.

Until next time,

Alex

Oh and here's that catchy tune I promised

We're baaaaaaaack!

Happy Monday everybody!

It's been awhile since there was activity on the site, but I actually do have a good reason...I was out of the country the past two weeks. I wore my Kan Jam shirt twice while I was there and got many odd looks, unfortunately no one knew of the game yet, but we'll get there one day.

Anyways, how about the football games this weekend. While I love football, I can admit that I took a nap during three out of the four games. The only one that kept me riveted from start to finish was the Packers-Cardinals game, which got off to a slow start but turned out to be an absolute classic. However the way the Cardinals defense played, I just can't see them scoring enough points two weeks in a row to overcome that weakness.

While that game was fun to watch, the Ravens-Patriots game was fun for a completely different reason...schadenfreude, or happiness at the misfortune of others.

Growing up in Buffalo and being a die-hard Bills fan, it brought me joy to watch the Patriots roll over and basically quit in the second half of their blowout loss to the Ravens. Their no-show in the second half was highlighted even more by the way the Packers fought back after facing an equally large first half defecit.

On Sportscenter this morning there was talk how this wasn't the end of the Patriots dynasty and how they will retool for next year, but I just don't see it. Brady isn't getting younger and is now completely immobile, there was one play in the red zone in the first half where Brady had a wide open seam up the middle for a 10 yard touchdown run. You could tell he was thinking about taking it, and then thought better of it and threw the ball away. After the play the announcers called him on this, so we shall see if Brady has entered a new part of his career where much like Jim Kelly and Dan Marino were late in their careers he is a sitting duck in the pocket, or if he just needed another year to recover from the knee injury last year.

But besides Brady, their offensive line provided no protection, Randy Moss is obviously past his prime, and the defense isn't getting any younger either. On the other hand the J-E-T-S looked very good against the Bengals, and I would say have a very very good chance of toppling the Patriots reign of the AFC East next season.

(Plus if the Bills sign Bill Cowher as their coach, and draft Tebow with the ninth pick in the draft...well than all bets are off in the AFC East for 2010.)

Until next time,

Alex